Paul Krush

From configurator-database.com the definition of a configurator:

“Simply put, a configurator is a software application for designing products exactly matching customers’ individual needs.”

They posted videos from the mass customization gurus:

YouTube.com/user/configuratordatabase

To me, a configurator is a jewelry design tool so easy that consumers can use it. The super easy tools will wind up as banner ads, harder tools will expand from the easier tools. I see a world in 5-10 years that there will be a full blend of jewelry design tools available from simple mass custom configurators to professional tools(training required) all available in a internet browser.

My idea of a configurator for mass custom jewelry is like the corny Flash games(advertisements) you see on websites. It must work in any browser without the permission of the user. It’s an advertisement that expands to become a jewelry design tool. I say it must be written in Flash because Flash is ubiquitous, and can do the job. It’s on more machines that Windows. For a long time I was held up on the idea that these tools had to be in 3D. 3D for flash is out there, but I think the smart companies will use 2D to start. It’s so much easier to write 2D tools.

Gemvision calls the configurators “builders” in their jewelry design software call Matrix. I call it a tool or builder, sometimes a configurator. My take on this, for many years, is the configurator needs to be run by the consumer. Even if it’s just to get their mouth wet so a professional can take over. People think I’m nuts when I say this, but I feel this mass custom jewelry market is going to be huge!

It may seem weird if you look back in time at this post, but the only way to present a great 3D tool for the consumer to design jewelry is an installed program, or browser plug-in. Both of these require permission from the user. You highly limit your customer base when you do this.

So here is my prediction: In five years 3D jewelry design tools for the browser written in Flash will be used in advertising on main stream websites. They will be viewable on mobile devices. Five years from now people are going to be in jewelry stores with jewelry design software on their phone playing with it like a video game.

I had this idea for years and realized it’s not on the website. Just as you can write software to render frames of a computer animated movie, you can script out Rhino 3D to render people’s names into a name ring or name pendant for a post card. Say a jewelry store has 5000 people in their database. You could build a system that renders 5000 pictures for 5000 post cards each using the persons first name. You could render all sorts of address information into a post card. I think this would be eye catching as heck. Every year when Mother’s day gets near I flirt with this one.

Just to review each post card would be different. It would have a 3D computer rendering of jewelry designs that contain the persons name.

The scripted name pendants you see can also be rendered in a mass customized way like this. This is more of a highly specialized 2D font creation. You can script in a name and create all sorts of 2D rules on how swoops and hearts are applied. You can add 2D symbols till the cows come how in an automated fashion. After the 2D curve is extruded into the 3D model. You can also add 2 ½D art work into this. 2 ½D art work is neat because it can be represented by a grayscale image.

I had JewelryPostCards.com registered for a while, but I never wanted to jump into the jewelry marketing business, so I  dumped the name. Dell color laser printers are high quality and cheap enough to do stuff like this. You can buy software that helps you automated the address information, bulk rate info, and barcodes.

I think the money is just not in jewelry to do this sort of stuff. My prediction is these ideas will be fleshed out in Asia. They can market and ship directly to the western world. This has been going on with colored stones from Thailand and cell phone accessories out of Hong Kong for a long time now.

I will send you all the models on this site, about 166 of them on a CD for $50. This would include free shipping worldwide. I have had requests for this, and I need the money!

Click here to Pay with PayPal.

Or send a check for $50 to:

Paul Krush
1039 Rockport Dr
Carol Stream, IL 60188

CD will Arrive in 1-3 weeks.

Thanks, Paul

I can help, $50 per hour, one hour minimum. I can help with 3D models, but keep in mind I do not consider myself a seasoned jewelry designer. I am not a bench person at all, but I can help in hard areas of modeling in Rhino.

I can also give advice on getting into CAD/CAM for jewelry.

If you read my blog you know I am a software developer and highly interested in jewelry design software. If you have something you would like to me to create let me know to see if it’s possible. Also feel free to ask if you need technical assistance related to these areas.

Click here to pay for the first hour ($50) via PayPal:

Or send a check for $50 * (Total number of hours you would like) to:

Paul Krush
1039 Rockport Dr
Carol Stream, IL 60188

My email address is paul@paulkrush.com

Thanks, Paul