The jewelry industry seems to have been an early adopter of computer-aided design, and now many small shops have access to additive manufacturing hardware and techniques.  These tools have enabled a new era of precision, accuracy, and efficiency.  Given the similarity of design offerings from a variety of manufacturers, a point can be made that these tools have not yet made much corresponding impact in design innovation.  As more designers adopt these technologies, will the technology lead―or limit―the design process or will designers learn to push the technology?

Using the metaphor of voice, I will ask, “Is the voice within your design really yours or that of the technology in use?” By offering this concept with additional terminology, I hope to inspire designers to think about voice in their design process and to think more about collaborating with technology rather than submitting to it. 

Author: Gary Dawson