Material Matters - Novel Alternatives: digital technologies applied to the development and manufacture of locally customized pet product

材料问题研究中心位于艾米莉·卡尔艺术+设计大学，通过设计引领的材料探索和研究创造，3D打印中的材料科学，其实用潜力，以及技术的伦理和生态分支，积极探索。我们建议与RC Pet Products Ltd(RC)建立应用研究伙伴关系，RC Pet Products Ltd(RC)是一家总部位于温哥华的老牌公司，专门从事宠物产品和配件的设计和制造。RC在北美提供优质产品，并在加拿大温哥华设有生产设施。自30年前成立以来，RC在宠物配件的设计上投入了大量资金，这些配件是可持续生产的，坚固耐用，反应灵敏，能够在各种条件下表现良好。与人类的合身和尺码不同，宠物服装的合身和尺码没有标准化-拟议的研究项目的目的是开发创新的用户-生产-用户路径，旨在本地按需生产。狗大衣将作为一个案例研究。利用RC的现有资产，该项目将通过研究新的产品开发、内部制造创新以及由新的数字工艺、生产和附加制造技术实现的具有成本效益的设计研究方法，开发支持内部研发的创新设计途径。由3D扫描和附加制造技术等新的数字工艺实现的针对用户的成本效益设计战略将是一个关键重点。与艾米丽·卡尔艺术与设计大学的研究伙伴关系处于有利地位，以发展RC的内部设计研究和生产能力。该大学以实践为导向的设计研究方法和新颖的数字生产技术有可能成为RC宠物产品在内部设计、生产和产品创新方面的发展资产。

Material Matters is a Research Centre located at Emily Carr University of Art + Design that is actively exploring through design-led material inquiry and Research Creation, the material science in 3D printing, its pragmatic potential, and the ethical and ecological ramifications of the technology. We propose an applied research partnership with RC Pet Products LTD (RC), an established Vancouver-based company that specializes in the design and manufacture of pet products and accessories. RC provides quality products across North America and has a production facility in Vancouver, Canada. Since their inception 30 years ago, RC has invested heavily in the design of pet accessories that are sustainably produced, rugged, responsive and capable of performing well under a wide range of conditions. Unlike fit and sizing for humans, there is no standardization of fit and sizing for pet garments - the purpose of the proposed research project is to develop innovative user-production-user pathways aimed at local, on-demand production. Dog coats will serve as a case study. Drawing on RC's existing assets, the project will develop innovative design pathways sustaining in house R&D by investigating new avenues for product development, in house fabrication innovation, and cost-effective design research methods enabled by new digital processes, production and additive manufacturing technologies. Cost-effective design to user strategies enabled by new digital processes such as 3D scanning and additive manufacturing technologies will be a key focus. A research partnership with Emily Carr University of Art + Design is well situated to develop RC's in-house design research and production capacity. The University's practice-led design research methods, and novel digital production technologies have the potential to become assets for RC pet products towards their development of in-house design, production, and product innovation.