selfdesigned

Self-designed is an adjective used to describe something created by its designer or creator without input from external design firms or collaborators. It can apply to products, artworks, buildings, software, or fashion, and it emphasizes the designer’s direct involvement in conception and execution.

In maker culture and independent design, self-designed items are often marketed as original, artisanal, or personally authored. Examples include furniture crafted from the designer’s own plans, jewelry designed by the creator, or software interfaces developed by a single programmer.

Self-designed work differs from custom-designed products, which are commissioned to meet a specific client’s requirements. It also contrasts with in-house design, where a company employs a design team, and with outsourced design, where external studios are contracted.

The design process for a self-designed project typically involves concept development, prototyping, testing, and iteration, usually by one person or a small team. It may require multidisciplinary skills such as engineering, aesthetics, and production, and it often raises intellectual property considerations, including copyright, design patents, or trademarks where applicable.

Pros of self-designed work include a high degree of originality, direct creative control, and potential cost savings for small production runs. Cons can include resource limitations, challenges of achieving scalability and consistent quality, and difficulties in distribution or market validation without external support.

Overall, the term is widely used to describe individually created designs in consumer markets and the maker movement, but it is not a formal term in design theory.