After FluidForms (read this old post), here is another innovative Swiss company based on mass-customization and user co-created content, mShape.
And they use too multi-layered wood and computer controlled milling machines, but here complexity comes from the behaviour of the users, from their co-creation that generates “a population of tables”.

It’s not an open p2p marketplace, it’s not a peer production example, but it is a very good example of user co-created design. You can’t buy other users’ tables, so it’s not a marketplace and relationships between users are not fostered (nor they are interested in them). Therefore, it’s not a community but a co-creation business/service.
Actually, you can buy an mShape table in two showrooms in Zurich, where:

Our partners can provide you with a Nokia mobile phone for the time of your design

So the most important thing of mShape is that it works using mobile techologies i.e. easy of use tecnologies that have a wide reach. Just note that every project that is strongly based on user participation needs an enabler designer rather than a conventional one, a designer capable of developing a meta-design project where the user will be the conventional designer.

mShape is a parametric design project which empowers people to affect the shape of a design object.

mTable is the first mShape product. it enables people to create their own table using a mobile phone. the mTable is designed by sculpting a surface, choosing dimensions, materials and colours. these parameters are directly transmitted to the computer controlled production facility for the manufacturing of the custom designed mtable.

How to create an mtable:

1. download: get the mtable application and install it on a Nokia Series 60 compatible mobile phone (7650 or later).
2. design: the mtable is designed with the following simple actions: pressure: sculpt a smooth landscape by placing one of seven deformers. depending on the distribution of the forces you can even create holes in your mtable. dimension: choose any table size between 0.6m x 0.6m and 1.2m x 2.4m. the height can be set between 0.2m and 0.9m. material: choose between swiss walnut wood and high gloss lacquer in numerous colours. submit your design to mshape.com.
3. control / order: once submitted, your design is rendered and can be viewed in high resolution on this website. the details of your mtable can be checked using a 3d viewer. browse through other designs to get inspired and view pictures of already built mtables. order your mtable through a local dealer.
4. production: the design data is transmitted to the manufacturer where the surface of the mtable is shaped with a computer controlled mill. the final assembly and quality control is taken care of by a professional carpenter.
5. delivery: your mtable will be shipped after 8-12 weeks. every mtable produced receives a unique number.

NOTE: mTABLE is not an industrial product. Although the design and part of the manufacturing process are based on advanced technology, the final assembly and surface treatment is handcrafted. Because wood is a living material every wooden mTABLE is unique in its pattern.

And as every project is a collective one, here is the design community of mShape:

DESIGN: Fabio Gramazio & Matthias Kohler.
PRODUCTION: Superform (producer, carpentry), CNC Dynamix (milling) and SwissHolz (wood).
COMMUNICATION: Viola Zimmermann & Thomas Killer.
WEB PROGRAMMING Patrick Sibenaler & PVC Hyperdesign.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Roman Keller.
SPECIAL THANKS: AGF (material tests) and Beat Ferrario.

via | core77

Tags: Business/Service, Co-Creation, Enabler, Fabbing, Generative system, Hand-craft, Mass-customization, Meta-design, Milling, Mobile, Parametric, Product Design, Switzerland, Technology