Democratic design: CrowdyHouse unveiled at Dutch Design Week

Founders Mark Studholme and Suzan Claesen were inspired by #MilanUncut – a discussion during the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan in 2011 – about the existing royalties system for designers. ‘In the current system designers take as little as 5%,’ Studholme tells LS:N Global. ‘And because of this system there are only a few products brought to market each year.’

In a similar model to that used by Kickstarter, CrowdyHouse provides an alternative to the conventional model of production and purchasing in the design industry. Through the online platform consumers can browse through designers’ products and furniture, and pledge funds for a piece to be produced.

‘The platform is about stimulating new and unique design through crowdfunding,’ says Studholme. ‘It allows designers to manage their whole production line – and they can also use it as a test bed.’

Potential buyers can also directly contact the 18 designers, including Floris Wubben and Lizan Freijsen, about their work.

LS:N Global is reporting live from Dutch Design Week. For more, keep an eye on our Shows and Seed sections.