Open collaborative design/Intro

Open design involves applying the highly successful open source software methodologies to the design of artifacts and systems in the physical world. The designs are freely available for anyone to use and help evolve. From the simplest things that can be made by individuals and groups, all the way up to large-scale systems of national and global infrastructure.

Design problems get ironed out due to the involvement of enough interested people, among whom are individuals who are able to see obvious solutions; and as it is a non-proprietary system they are willing help improve it for everyone's benefit. This way of working also minimizes the massive duplication of effort that occurs worldwide today in commercial design and engineering - due to the ways companies are forced to behave, operating within the current economic framework.