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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 25 M A R C H 9 , 2 0 1 5 its locking mechanism. at defined the problem he was trying to solve. Not wanting to lock into a fixed concept too early in the process, he made numerous sketches and solicited further feedback. He came up with a prototype drawing of a con- cealed fastener with a cleaner, more modern look and a push-bar mechanism that could lock the window at different degrees of opening. Duratherm liked his con- cept, which led to the next step of Santerre creating clay models for each component. He admits that using clay is a vestige of traditional industrial design — and that as •D technology continues to improve and go down in price there will be a temptation to skip that step entirely. But he believes there's still merit to that old technology. "is still is a valuable process," he says of his clay modeling. "It doesn't constrain your thinking. Your imagination is still closely tied to something you can make with your hands. It's still a human being guiding the tool and the process. at's where you get the 'Ah!' moment, the sensual feeling of the product's design. If you are working with clay, there is still a relationship to the material world … but with a computer, it's all in the head." Santerre acknowledges that, once the concept is ready to be tested, there's no question •D technology speeds up the product development process: Changes can be made to •D printed prototypes rather than the actual mold of the product, saving a lot of time and money as changes are made to arrive at the best design. "It's getting our models close to the actual mate- rial that it's eventually going to be," Santerre says, noting that he's now milled an aluminum prototype for Duratherm that's been installed in a window for extensive evaluation as a final step before going into full production. In his industrial design work, Santerre says he's designing objects to be "the most appropriate solu- tion" for the given problem. Although he envisions a day when every home will have its own •D printer, enabling homeowners to make simple replacement parts for household items that have broken, he believes there will still be a need for skilled designers. In a well- designed product, he says, there's always an aesthetic quality that transcends its function. "ey go hand-in-hand," Santerre says, well aware that his metaphor goes back to his initial point that computers and •D printers, when they're designing products for people, are ultimately guided by a living, thinking and feeling person. "Each project is an adventure in which we focus on both understanding the needs of our clients and the impact our designs will have on the Earth," he says. "Our responsibility as both industrial designers and architects is to design and make lasting artifacts in the present, with an insightful understanding of the past, in support of a healthy, peaceful future." RO L L E A S E I N N OV AT I O N C E N T E R : Testing form, t and function Greg Farr, senior vice president and chief innova- tion officer for RollEase Inc., doesn't mince words in describing the impact •D technology is having on the Stamford, Conn.-based company's devel- opment of new window-covering products at its Innovation Center in Brunswick. VALUATIONS CUSTOM-FITTED Gain Insight with Valuation and Forensic Experts The issues are complicated. You need an expert who can bring clarity. Leveraging Northern New England's largest accounting and consulting fi rm. Dependable valuations. Defendable results. SHAREHOLDER DISPUTES ECONOMIC DAMAGES LOST PROFITS BUSINESS APPRAISAL BERRYDUNN.COM C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »

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