Overview of Fabrigator’s Design Methodology
- Fabrigator
- Jun 8
- 2 min read
At Fabrigator, our design methodology is grounded in robust engineering principles with a strong emphasis on manufacturability. Our process is structured into distinct phases: ideation, prototyping, testing, and ultimately, integration into a manufacturable product.
Ideation Phase
The initial stage focuses on precisely defining the problem, which is critical to guiding the design process. When existing solutions underperform, we conduct a thorough root cause analysis to inform iterative improvements. Our expertise in re-engineering is exemplified by our advancements in lithophane, where we have successfully enhanced the performance of traditional models.
Historical Context: Lithophane Evolution
Lithophanes, originally crafted from porcelain in China and later refined by European artisans, have historically been admired for their intricate artistry but have suffered from fragility, high costs, and cumbersome form factors. Recognizing these limitations, Fabrigator has sought to preserve the aesthetic value of lithophanes while addressing their inherent drawbacks.
Prototyping and Testing
The advent of CNC machining and 3D printing has revolutionized lithophane production by reducing labor costs and enabling the use of more accessible materials. Our design team has focused on enhancing durability and visual quality by employing robust plastics for panels, optimizing contrast, and introducing color where desired.For illumination, LEDs are selected for their compactness and longevity
We identified that traditional lamp skeletons were bulky, fragile, and challenging to ship or assemble. Through iterative prototyping and testing, we developed a solution where the panels themselves form the primary structure of the lamp. This innovation reduces material usage, improves aesthetics, and allows for easy disassembly, shipping, and reassembly. Furthermore, this modular approach facilitates scalability and panel interchangeability across different lamp sizes, streamlining both production and customization.
Design for Manufacturing
Our iterative design process has yielded significant benefits, including improved product quality and reduced development costs. By leveraging 3D printing and addressing potential issues during the ideation phase, we have minimized the need for redesigns and accelerated time-to-market. The success of our box lithophanes as popular wedding and party gifts inspired us to expand into full-scale lamps, drawing inspiration from iconic designs such as those by Tiffany, while introducing our own innovative elements.
Conclusion
Fabrigator’s commitment to continuous improvement and design for manufacturability ensures that we deliver aesthetically pleasing, durable, and customizable products that honor tradition while embracing modern technology.
The first 2 paragraphs can be skipped. The 3rd paragraph is actually interesting, because it introduces and explains a new word: lithophane. This is where this post should have started. Need to explain what it is and how this is pretty unique way of creating visuals. Essentially what we see is... thickness of material! This is very different from all other kinds of imaging. You could draw a parallel with how 3d viewers (like in games), where we deal with the opposite challenge: representing depth in 2d. So lithophane is the opposite of computer viewer (or a photograph if you wish). Photography converts 3d to 2d, lithophane converts 2d to 3d.
BTW another way to look at lithophane is that…