Design Global, Manufacture Local: Assessing the Practices, Innovation, and Sustainability Potential of an Emerging Mode of Production

Descripción del proyecto

Crear economías sostenibles a través de bienes comunes digitales

En medio de una crisis sistémica, es imprescindible crear conciencia informada sobre los nuevos futuros capitalista y poscapitalista. El proyecto COSMOLOCALISM, financiado con fondos europeos, profundizará en nuestra comprensión sobre cómo crear una economía sostenible a través de bienes comunes digitales. Por ejemplo, una comunidad de pequeños agricultores en Francia diseña y fabrica sus propias máquinas agrícolas de forma colectiva y comparte estos diseños con el resto del mundo como un bien común mundial. Otra comunidad en los Estados Unidos hace lo mismo y ambas comunidades entran en contacto y crean sinergias mediante la mejora de los mismos bienes comunes. COSMOLOCALISM estudiará este modelo emergente de producción conocido como «diseña a nivel mundial, fabrica a nivel local» (DGML, por sus siglas en inglés), que se basa en la convergencia de los bienes comunes con las tecnologías de fabricación locales.

Objetivo

COSMOLOCALISM will document, analyse, test, evaluate, and create awareness about an emerging mode of production, based on the confluence of the digital commons (e.g. open knowledge and design) with local manufacturing and automation technologies (from 3D printing and CNC machines to low-tech tools and crafts). This convergence could catalyse the transition to new inclusive and circular productive models, such as the “design global, manufacture local” (DGML) model.

DGML describes the processes through which design is developed as a global digital commons, whereas the manufacturing takes place locally, through shared infrastructures and with local biophysical conditions in mind. DGML seems to form economies of scope that promote sustainability and open innovation while celebrating new ways of cooperation. However, such claims rest on thin conceptual and empirical foundations.

COSMOLOCALISM is a multiphase, pilot-driven investigation of the DGML phenomenon that seeks to understand relevant organisational models, their evolution, and their broader political economy/ecology and policy implications. Through the lens of diverse case studies and participatory action research, the conditions under which the DGML model thrives will be explored.

COSMOLOCALISM has three concurrent streams: practices; innovation; and sustainability. First, DGML practices will be studied, patterns will be recognised and their form, function, cultural values, and governance structure will be determined. Second, the relevant open innovation ecosystems and their potential to reorient design and manufacturing practices will be examined. Third, selected DGML products will be evaluated from an environmental sustainability perspective, involving both qualitative and quantitative methods. The interdisciplinary nature of COSMOLOCALISM will explore new horizons to substantively improve our understanding of how we could do “more” and “better” with less.