Why is ELLE Jewelry launching a design contest on Pinshape?
Secrecy has been a powerful tool for many product companies. Apple has woven this concept deeply into their brand, and embedded it into everything they create. Clearly, stealth mode has its place in competition. But things are changing. We’re starting to see a trend of companies engaging ‘outsiders’ in the discovery of new products, and 3D printing is making this easier than ever before. Last year, Hasbro’s My Little Pony started testing designs of new ponies with ‘Super Fans.’ General Electric launched an Open Innovation Challenge to design a jet engine bracket, and NASA launched a Student Contest for 3D-Printed Astronaut Tools . Last week, Pinshape (our online community marketplace for 3D printable files) landed our biggest brand partnership yet with ELLE Time & Jewelry , a large jewelry and timepiece distributor and ELLE Magazine affiliate, to launch a jewelry design contest . ELLE Jewelry is a perfect example of how major brands are outsourcing product gener