Samenvatting

The Self-Production Economy as a trend is based on the availability and accessibility of digital design and manufacturing technology to a wide range of individuals. Such technology allows them to create their own products with the quality and functionality that, so far, only industrial manufacturers were able to produce. Digital technology also allows cost-effective, industrial-grade manufacturing of one-of-a-kind products. Self-producers, also known as “makers”, design and manufacture their own, individualised products, putting their creativity and skills at use, individually and collectively. Through digital platforms, they interact and design on a global scale, share their designs and build upon each other’s. Instead of shipping products, designs and manufacturing instructions are shared digitally. Self-production infrastructure such as 3D printers can be accessed at local production hubs. Using locally sourced materials, self-production has the potential to reduce transportation and increase transparency.