About

Context Furniture's design process began by drawing simple outlines in graphics software applications, then translating those graphics into furniture by using laminated plywood panels, digital technologies, and CNC routers. Context has produced three collections using these processes, from solid pieces, to component based designs, to flat-pack RTA furniture. The versatility of the process allows for limitless design possibilities.


We believe these concepts and process design can and will allow the consumer to interact with the design and creation of his or her own products in a more profound way than ever before. To prove this Context Furniture is announcing an Internet symposium, called "Design Democracy 2008 - Power to the People." Context will be requesting submissions for designs using the mass-customization process.
Each entry will be posted on the www.designdemocracy08.com website where participants can discuss ideas, rate each others designs and read articles pertaining to mass-customization, product design, manufacturing, and related software technologies.

A panel of industry professionals will review all entries and decide upon designs to be produced and debuted at the 2008 ICFF. In addition to being viewed on the website each entry will be visually represented at the 2008 ICFF Context Furniture booth in New York City. A "people's choice" design will also be produced as ratings from the website and on-site ICFF voting are tallied. Context Furniture encourages everyone and anyone to participate. The design districts will include, design enthusiast consumers, students, and design professionals. Any image, from a scanned napkin sketch drawing to a 3-D model can be entered for submission. A Design Democracy Citizen may contribute as many designs as they choose to.

Designs to be produced for the ICFF will be selected from submissions posted before March 21, 2008.

Context Furniture is excited about the prospect of changing from a mass manufactured model to a mass customized one partly because they find it environmentally friendly. Mass manufacturing concepts are based upon producing and item for as cheap as possible. Mass customization, though not the cheapest, does compete on price point, but has environmental advantages. "We consider making a product that we know has a specific demand a more responsible way to produce, says Bryce Moore, co-owner of Context. Kerry Moore adds, "This event is about addressing the idea of how the world interacts with the goods it creates. Mass manufacturing has been the standard for over 100-years. Isn't there a better way, a new way?"

The Moore's encourage everyone to "apply for citizenship" in the Design Democracy. The event will launch in January 2008