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The Accessibility Of Design Reimagined In A New Concept By Alexander Lervik Forbes, 2020

LIFESTYLE ARTS The Accessibility Of Design Reimagined In A New Concept By Alexander Lervik

ByRoddy Clarke,

Contributor.

Roddy Clarke is a UK-based design writer and speaker. Follow Author Feb 18, 2020, 10:01am ESTFeb 18, 2020, 11:06am EST This article is more than 6 years old.

For designers, letting others into the specifics behind your design process can be uncomfortable, but could an open mindset make way for more accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability within the industry?

The Terra Chair by Alexander Lervik will become available as a digital file which can be purchased and produced in a manufacturer local to you. HELEN PE

Alexander Lervik, the Swedish visionary designer, disclosed the idea of sharing designs digitally in Sweden’s first TED Talk 10 years ago, stating “we need a Spotify for the design world.” Earlier this month, as part of a recent collection of work launched over Stockholm Design Week, he released the Terra Chair: a digital design which will become available online via Design House Stockholm and produced in a local workshop near to you. The body of work, titled Imaginations x 12, also featured a collaboration with the Swedish lift manufacturer Aritco and a conceptual lighting design in partnership with Zero.

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In a concept which seeks to reduce the need for shipping and logistics, Lervik is looking to disrupt the industry’s mindset in light of the rising global climate crisis we face. Sharing design via digital mediums has been on his mind for a number of years, and he discovered the opportunities of 3D printing around 20 years ago which sparked his inventive thoughts.

Producing the MyBrain Lamp in 2007, a 3D printed replica of his own brain originating from an MR scan at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Lervik has been investigating the fluidity which could change the industry thanks to the advancement of digital technology. The lamp was one of the first designs to be produced this way in Sweden and received a lot of attention, resulting in Lervik hosting lectures and discussions around the process. At the time, when machinery was expensive and 3D Printing was still in its infancy, many couldn't see the future it could have. However, in recent years, designers are exploring the technique further and it is bringing an added dimension to the industry.

MORE FOR YOU The MyBrain Lamp by Alexander Lervik features a 3D-printed MR scan of his own brain. ALEXANDER LERVIK

Exploring these digital processes has led Lervik to think about the logistics of design and production. If digital designs became more accessible could it help in reducing the carbon footprint of this global industry and could it have a positive impact on local communities across the world?

Lervik is hoping others will take the concept behind the Terra chair to a larger scale, and collaborating with Design House Stockholm showcases the way it can work through a retail platform. Customers will be able to access the digital file for the chair online by the end of 2020 and then use a recommended local manufacturer to produce it. The file itself is free to purchase but a percentage of the production cost will go to both Design House Stockholm and Lervik.

The Terra chair is easily produced with a CNC machine and can be customised with a surface pattern. ALEXANDER LERVIK

With the risk of brands copying the design itself, Lervik will ensure each partner factory has its own marking on the piece with a serial number attached to it. This way, the original collection can be monitored and an illicit copy will be easily identified. “When designing these pieces I try to eliminate the things that can go wrong.” He states, “Therefore, it can be easily produced with just the final polishing and finishing needed. Design House Stockholm were initially unsure about sharing the file for free, but aligned with my vision in seeing that it could gain a quicker response to monitor how users interact with the concept.” The team are currently looking for manufacturers to collaborate with to increase their global outreach for the project.

It results in a solution which negates many of the impacts todays production has. Made entirely from wood, the team will work with manufacturers who use consciously sourced materials. It also reduces the need for international shipping, lessening not only the carbon footprint but also the overall cost. Alongside these environmental and economical benefits, the owners of the file can choose from a selection of finishes and patterns which gives way to further creativity and adds a bespoke aesthetic to the design.

Looking to add further pieces into this format, Lervik explains he is currently working on a digital glass design to be made accessible in the same way. The next step would be to build an online platform which brings together digital designs from across the world, and make them available in one collective space.

With Lervik not being the only designer to think of a way to encourage the development of local communities, Dave Hakkens founded Precious Plastic in 2012 with the idea of bringing opportunity to a wider community of creatives. Resulting in an open source project, Precious Plastic shares information and knowledge for free, allowing anyone to set up a plastic recycling plant in their own locale. Funded through grants, donations and a variety of creative projects, the scheme now has a community of 80,000 members and around 1000 people, groups and organisations working with Precious Plastic machines and knowledge around the world. This approach proves the sharing of knowledge and support does, and will continue to, encourage those in deprived and remote locations to flourish and gain access to celebrated design.

Lervik explains there has been a mixed response to his idea of creating a shared platform for digital design. “Many designers don’t like the idea of letting go and sharing something they have worked on tirelessly for free.” He explains. “However, if we remove our ego from the picture and work together, we can change the future of design. We have to be bold and ensure we, as designers, can make ourselves relevant to a future society.”

Alexander Lervik is hoping his vision will inspire others to collaborate and join in his mission of creating a more accessible industry. STHLMPORTRAITFACTORY

With only a narrow window of time to make these drastic changes in our fight to save the environment and our society, Lervik is shifting mindsets. Willing to work with a technology company who would take care of the platform itself, he is keen to share his idea with the world. Where Spotify has revolutionised the music industry, would the same accessibility work in the world of design? While it may seem radical, perhaps now is the time to find out.

Follow Roddy on Instagram or get in touch via his website.

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