Hot or Not – Downloadable Designs bring new meaning to DIY

This is the first post in our weekly Hot or Not Roundup, where we find interesting projects from the design world and decide if they are destined to burn brightly or doomed to fizzle into oblivion

Absolut and TreeHugger have teamed up to demonstrate a new trend: downloadable design. The name really says it all. Customers can download designs from home and have them assembled by local manufacturers or build it themselves. Downloadable Designs make designer furniture more accessible to the average person, and are much more affordable than normal designer work. Downloadable Designs allow home decorators with budgets the freedom to be inspired—and not just by what’s in stock at the Pottery Barn.

This innovation brings new meaning to idea of DIY projects, but who has time to build their own furniture? Hiring a local carpenter is an option, but these custom jobs can get costly. While taking a more active role in the production of your living room furniture reduces carbon emissions by keeping things local, it’s no easy task. So is it worth it?

The design for this versatile and playful laptop table, created by an Interior Design grad student, can be downloaded on the Treehugger website. It’s cute, but cute enough to build yourself?

THE REAL TALK DESIGN VERDICT

Downloadable Designs are hot, check them out before every kid on the block has one. Building it yourself is just part of the adventure.

Have something to say about our decision? Visit the RealTalkDesign.com forum and let your voice be heard