Prof. Wolfgang Laubersheimer,
The exponential progress of technology and the evolution of new production processes do not allow universities, simply from an economic point of view, to have the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art equipment. Whoever designs a product needs expertise of the various options and alternatives in manufacturing.
In the production of small lots, the tooling costs may therefore be extensive and the designer needs to know what other choices he may have. In addition to expertise of production processes, students need to gather experience with material. In design education, the unstoppable dynamics of high-tech must be replaced, and transformed into sensible, feasible, and tangible low-tech dimensions. Within the newest developments of 3D-printing, Open Source Community, Data Sharing, the field of »Production Technologies« underwent many changes and must be given top priority in the field of design.