The last few months the word about rapid prototyping in furniture, jewelry and accessories spread across the Internet like a virus. Recently I came across an article by Frank Piller which pointed at an exiting new spectrum of generative production and infects us with a new fever: the mass customization of musical instruments, especially drums. On the NAMM Show 2008, the fair for musical instruments in the USA, 24 of 41 drum-exhibitors already embrace the new age of individual design and mass customization. For those of you thinking about buying a customized drum set the article provides you a list of the most important companies able to create the base drums, rim shots and snares of your dreams.

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After standing on top of a hard competition and winning at the Glamour Designpfad in Vienna, we are very happy to get public recognition for our designs again: We were recently nominated for the Fast Forward Award (FFA), the innovation award of the province of Styria.

ORF, Austria’s public TV station broadcasts a portrait of all nominees. So we have to get our hair cut and take the finest suit out of the wardrobe…

The final event is scheduled for the 11th of September. We would like to see you at the “Grazer Seifenfabrik” to have strong support there.

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Recently starting my work here at Fluid Forms I already got a real boost and deep insight on the companies work and vision. From the 4th to the 8th of July I was very lucky to take part together with Hannes in the ‘AplusB Summer Academy for Entrepreneurs 2008′ in Vienna. Lecturers like Ted Zoller, David Charron or Robert McMahan from the worldwide known elite universities of Berkeley and North Carolina screwed, squeezed and shaked us the last few days like mad. From early morning to late night we were supposed to rethink at least a thousand times how we can improve our offer to our customers and how we can face future challenges lying ahead.

Together with other young companies such as insidr.info, modernfamilies or Sanoson we could break through the borders of our own entrepreneurial mindset.

There was a great spirit around the participating groups and the lecturers. In all my live as a student (and I’ve gone a long way down the road) I’ve never ever seen such enthusiastic students on the one side and such motivated and encouraging lecturers on the others side.

You’ve all done a perfect work!

PS: Pictures will be posted soon

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Yesterday I was at a presentation by Julian Hönig, the Audi designer responsible for the new A4. Julian explained how the design process at Audi works and showed some highlights from projects including the A4, the Audi Cross Coupé Showcar and the RSQ (Will Smiths car in I-Robot).

He talked about differences in the American intuitive approach and the European conceptional approach to design. Being a designer who works closely with engineers he also expressed the importance of non-designers being creative in the problems solving process.

Julian was presented with a Fluid Earth bowl by the Automotive Cluster Styria and I was very pleased that he noticed the hard work we have put into making it what it is.

“It is a brilliant product! It is not just a brilliant idea but, in the selection and combination of materials, brilliant in its implementation as well.” Julian Hönig

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