Research Summary
The report discusses the future of consumer goods, focusing on the concept of generative manufacturing. It explores how onchain generative algorithms, currently used in the visual arts domain, could be applied to consumer and luxury goods verticals. The report also delves into the history of generative manufacturing, current experiments within web3, and the generative manufacturing stack, which includes creation, curation, translation, fabrication, and authentication/linking layers. The report concludes with potential future possibilities, including the tokenization of decentralized manufacturing facilities and the use of synthetic biology or chemistry manufacturing.
Key Takeaways
Generative Manufacturing and Consumer Goods
- Generative Algorithms: These are primarily used in the visual arts domain, but the report suggests that they could be applied to other consumer and luxury goods verticals. The algorithms create unique pieces within a wider collection, catering to individual tastes and preferences.
- Addressing Mass Production and Customization: Generative algorithms can be integrated into fabrication hardware, providing feasibility in terms of production and distribution while offering scarcity and uniqueness.
- New Class of Consumer and Luxury Goods: The interplay between social dynamics and rarity, and digital creation and physical production, could lead to a new class of goods that combine algorithmic randomness, end-user parameterization, and verifiable uniqueness.
History of Generative Manufacturing
- 1960s – Early Generative Art: Artists began experimenting with algorithmic processes to create artworks using early computers and programming languages.
- 1980s – Personal Computers & Software Revolution: The emergence of personal computers made digital tools more accessible, enabling a wider range of artists to experiment with these novel artistic processes.
- 1990s to 2000s – Birth & Expansion of Additive Manufacturing: As 3D printing emerged and evolved, artists saw new opportunities. Generative artists began to experiment with these tools, creating sculptures and installations directly from their software-driven designs.
Web3 Experiments
- Trame’s Neolice Loom: Trame x CPG’s Craft Nouveau is a series of collections focused on combining traditional crafts with generative art, showcasing the ability of generative code to preserve the art styles of cultures across the globe.
- fx(hash) Ecosystem: This ecosystem has seen a lot of experimentation on the manufacturing side due to its permissionless approach to self-publishing.
- Fashion and Generative Manufacturing: Fashion is one of the most explored avenues for generative manufacturing, with brands like 9dcc and Tribute Brand combining generative designs and physical products.
Actionable Insights
- Exploring Generative Manufacturing: Businesses in the consumer and luxury goods sectors could explore the potential of generative manufacturing to create unique, customized products.
- Investigate the Potential of Onchain Generative Algorithms: These algorithms could be used to create distinctive products that reflect consumers’ unique identities, potentially revolutionizing the way goods are produced and distributed.
- Consider the Future Possibilities: The report suggests that the future could see the tokenization of decentralized manufacturing facilities for producing generative goods at scale, as well as the use of synthetic biology or chemistry manufacturing.
