WO2001013305A1

WO2001013305A1 - Virtual design studio system

Info

Publication number: WO2001013305A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/022442
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark H. Lawrence
Original assignee: Privity Ventures, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-08-16
Filing date: 2000-08-16
Publication date: 2001-02-22
Also published as: AU6909500A

Abstract

A program (10) for designing and market testing goods or services on-line based upon the authorization of and feedback collected from one or more users. The program includes various parts, including a design studio having a new design (18), continued design (20), redesign (22), or mall for shopping (24). The design studio also includes a product or service group category (28) having various elements of a product or service to be designed, which may be selected from a database and used by an authorized user. After a design is accepted or completed by an authorized user, the accepted design may be sampled in a unique sampling mode (44), stored (52) or discarded (66), or ordered (68), as desired. Stored designs may also be published (54) so as to be added to a catalog (58), portfolio (60), show (62), store (64), etc., where an authorized user may order (68) and then have manufactured the design by an agreed-to manufacturer associated with a supplier. The program also allows a user to simulate the assembly of an object in a chosen setting, prior to completing the design, market testing the design and purchasing the design.

Description

VIRTUAL DESIGN STUDIO SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the design and market testing of goods or services. More particularly, this invention relates to the use of an on-line network web site for interactive design of goods and services and identification of the designs, which may be purchased by a user or others. The invention also includes the submission of designs by users for inclusion in collections, for discussion and review, for previewing of designs to sample or purchase, and for the manufacture of designed goods.

2. Description of Related Art

Numerous types of on-line systems are known for ordering or purchasing products. Such systems include those which provide immediate payment for computer users in exchange for viewing an on-line advertisements, or for online shoppers who can earn "frequent-buyer" points by making purchases from merchants affiliated with an award program. Additionally, on-line systems are known that allow consumers to name the price that they are willing to pay for a product in an on-line auction, and for marketing, purchasing of and paying for a product, as well as electronic shopping carts to collect items for purchase during an on-line shopping trip.

None of the known systems, however, provide a design or design studio and market test approach, wherein goods or services may be designed by a user for purchase by themselves or others, and which system also allows for market testing and manufacture of designed goods, submission of designs for inclusion in collections, or the like, for discussion, and for sampling and reviewing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an on-line design system. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved on-line virtual design studio for designing goods or services. It is another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved on-line system that allows the submission of designs for market testing, and for other users to sample and review. It is yet another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved on-line system that allows sampling of one's own simulated designs and simulations of designs by others in different simulated settings. It is yet a further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved on-line system for purchasing one's own designs and/ or designs by others. It is yet a still further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved on-line system that has the ability to provide credit to approved users, based on frequent visits, under specific conditions. It is a still further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved on-line system that enables approved users to include their designs in a collection, such as a store, portfolio, show, or the like. And, it is yet another further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved on-line design system having a program portion that allows suppliers to manufacture or have manufactured, approved designs.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system whereby users may access a web site over the internet, and upon approval, browse through a virtual design studio to design their own goods or services either alone, or combined with designs of others in a catalog, show, studio, portfolio, store, or the like. The present invention also enables authorized users to sample and purchase designs by other users, or to redesign or customize goods or services to their liking for purchase. Additionally, the present invention further provides for the authorization to manufacture created designs. The program also allows authorized users to amass frequent visit credits when utilizing the web site, under specific conditions, which credits may be used toward purchase of designs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of a design studio part of the program of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a further embodiment of the design studio part of the program of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a smart filter business model utilizing the design studio program of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a manufacturer's sign-up part of the program of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a manufacturer order bidding part of the program of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a business model part of the program and how an object is assembled utilizing the program of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein, specifically to provide for an improved on-line based design studio program, generally indicated at 10. For purposes of this application, the on-line virtual program of the present invention will be referred to as "4u2Design" or "4u2DesignStudio", and includes sub-programs referred to as Smart Filter, "4u2Manufacture" and "4u2Modef. Definition of Terms As used herein, the indicated terms are given the following definitions: 1) "Internet" means the Internet, World Wide Web, Intranet, Extranet or other medium that enables a user to access and browse the 4u2Design Studio program or the SmartFilter, 4u2Manufacture and 4u2Model extensions thereof.

2) "Business model" is a program or way of doing business. 3) "4u2Design" is an Internet web site that enables users to design goods and services.

4) "SmartFilter" is a part of the 4u2 Design Studio program that allows a supplier to outsource design and/ or product selection to its potential customers or an equivalent external party. 5) "4u2Manufacture" is a program part that enables distributors to list their demand for specific goods and services and allows manufacturers to bid to produce and fulfill specific orders.

6) "4u2Model" is a program part that enables customers to sample electronic goods and services in a simulation of the setting of their choice. 7) "Frequent visitor" is a program part that enables web site owners to give users credit for the number of visits to their web site and the length of time spent interacting with the web site, and affiliated entities, under specific conditions.

8) "Distributor" is an individual, company or entity that acquires goods or services from manufacturers and distributes those goods or services to the distributor's customers.

9) "Supplier" is the owner of the 4u2 Design Studio or an affiliate of that owner.

10) "User" is an individual, company or entity that visits the 4u2Design Studio. 11) "Potential user" refers to current users and potential users that may use the 4u2Design Studio in the future.

12) "Collection" is a forum where users can aggregate designs, such as in a catalog, portfolio, show, store etc.

13) "Catalog" is an aggregation of designs that may have a thumbnail representation of each design and no motion components. 14) "Portfolio" is an aggregation of designs where each design may have individual motion components.

15) "Show" is an aggregation of designs that may include motion that interlinks different designs as well as individual motion components. 16) "Store" is an aggregation of designs that is aimed at a particular target market. A store may be owned by an entity that is otherwise unaffiliated with a supplier.

17) "Review" is a forum that allows a user, or limited group of users, to critique designs. 18) "Sample" is a process by which a user can experience a simulation of a design.

19) "Object" is the environment in which a user will sample a design. For example, a room can be the object for furniture and a mannequin can be the object for clothes. 20) "Publish" is used to indicate that a user regards a design as complete and available for inclusion in a collection. A user can publish a design to a number of locations, such as a catalog, portfolio, show, store, private warehouse, etc.

21) "Warehouse" is a private area where users can store partial and complete designs. Users can prevent third parties from accessing their private warehouse.

22) "Message" is an advertisement, a sequence of advertisements, or an alternative communication that appears on a computer screen when a user accesses the 4u2Design Studio, 4u2Manufacture, etc. over the Internet. 23) "Sponsor" is a company, individual or organization that wants to send a message to a target market that may, or may not, include users of the

4u2Design Studio.

24) "4u2Shop Mall" is an online shopping mall that allows users to visit various stores to browse, sample and purchase designs. 25) "Product group" is a type of product or service. For example, furniture is one type of product group and clothes are another type of product group. 26] "Mass customization" is a process that enables a distributor to offer orders to a number of manufacturers, who bid to drive down the wholesale price. Each manufacturer can aggregate individual orders with existing production runs to achieve scale economies that drive down costs. 4u2Design Studio

The 4u2Design Studio is part of a program 10 of the present invention at a web site accessed over the internet so that a user may design goods for purchase by themselves or others. The program 10 may also be used to submit designs for inclusion into collections, such as a portfolio, a show, a review, etc., or to discuss, sample and review design interests. Or, the program 10 may be used to market test designs, or browse the 4u2 Shop Mall to sample and purchase original designs.

As described more fully below, in the design mode, the 4u2Design Studio program 10 allows users to design and market test a variety of goods and services, such as clothes, music, pictures, furniture, curtains, bedspreads, industrial goods, other programs or business models, etc. The design process entails a number of selected steps. For example, when designing clothes in the virtual design studio, one or more of the following steps, as more clearly set forth below, would be utilized.

Referring now to the flow chart of FIG. 1, there indicated is a preferred method of how a user on a computer, or other on-line network connection device, may access the web site 4u2Design.com, to utilize the program 10 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 11 indicates access to the web site via an on-line provider or some other acceptable way, in a known manner, so that a user may log on to the web site, as indicated by 12. During log on, information about the user is collected and a frequent visitor counter or clock 14 is activated. That is, at registration 16, information about the user is collected, so as to create or change a profile, or update a profile 17. Any necessary authorization 26 is also requested. If the user profile is OK 27 and authorization is accepted, any desired changes are entered in a data base 29, the user frequent visitor counter 14 set, and the authorized user allowed to browse the studio 31. A user will then select from a number of options, such as a new design 18, continue an existing design 20, redesign a previously published or stored design 22, to sample and/or view of designs, visit the 4u2 Shop Mall 24, etc. If a user has the proper authorization provided by the program, the user may sample, edit, buy, delete, and otherwise access a given designer's designs. With the proper authorization, the user may make a selection of a product group 28. This allows the user to select from the available list of product groups, or create the type of offering that the user wishes to design. Such designs may include one or more dimensions of an object 30, by either selecting from an available list of objects, or creating the type of object and its dimensions, such as a room (for furniture), a window (for curtains), a mannequin for (clothes), etc. Selection of size 32 allows the user to select from an available list of sizes, or to specify the size of an item, such as large, medium or small and the actual size in centimeters, inches, or the like. Selection of style 34 allows the user to select from available list of styles, or to create a style, such as baggy, tight fit, etc. Selection of materials 36 allows the user to select from an available list of materials, or to specify unique materials for each component of the product and any accessories. Selection of accessories 38 allows the user to select from an available list of accessories, or to create accessories that complement or complete the main product designed. The selection of patterns 40 allows the user to select from an available list of patterns, or to create a pattern from each component of the product and accessories being designed. Selection of colors 42 allows the user to select from an available list of colors, or to create their own combination of colors for each component of the product and any accessories. The design may then be automatically sampled 44 and, if acceptable, added to Favorites 46 in an acceptable storage media. After all changes are made 48, the end design may be sampled 50. The sampling allows the user to sample the simulation of the completed design in a variety of environments. For example, the user may sample a simulation of a design from a number of angles and elevations, in varying lights, superimposed on specific or generic objects, etc. The user may also define how other users sample their design when such a user is authorized and chooses to view the design in automatic sampling mode 44. The acceptable designs may be stored, as by being added to favorites 46 or in a private warehouse 52, only accessible to users authorized by the original designer. The designs in storage may be partial or complete, or may be used for modifying, or deleting other designs. Publication of a design 54 allows a designer to submit a design for sampling and review by other users. Such published designs may be included in areas, such as favorites 56, catalog 58, portfolio 60, show 62, or may be otherwise stored, as indicated by 64, for use at a later time, for example, with continue design 20 or redesign 22. Any design may be discarded 66 by an authorized user, either partially or completely, so long as any such design being used by a supplier is agreed to be discarded by the supplier. Favorite designs 56 in storage, whether entire designs or sub-components are readily available to a designer, and easily retrieved for use to save time when designing other goods and/ or services. Continuation Mode As shown in FIG. 1, in "Continue Design" 20, the 4u2Design Studio part of the program allows users, with proper authorization to find a "design in progress". The user can then edit, publish, discard etc. the design, as if they are in design mode, so long as the user has appropriate authority. Re-Design Mode As shown in FIG. 1, in "Re-Design" 22, the 4u2Design Studio part of the program allows users to retrieve a design that they are authorized to access even though the design has already been published. The user can then edit, re- publish, discard etc. the design, as if they are in design mode, so long as the user has appropriate authority. The user may need permission from the /// supplier, or owner of a collection, such as a storeowner, to re-design a previously published design. Sampling Mode

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the 4u2Design Studio part of the program allows users to sample 44, 50 a variety of goods in a variety of settings. The user can locate a design using a number of different search criteria, such as store 64, portfolio 60, designer 57, show 62, awards 61, top picks 63, etc. Once a target design 70 has been located, the user can sample it in a number of ways including: I ) Automatic Sampling 44 - predefined description and sampling of the design;

2) Custom Sampling 72- user makes one or more adjustments to the predefined automatic sampling, such as changing the setting to match the user's preferred setting. For example, clothing can be sampled on an object that resembles the user (assuming that the user inputs the appropriate information during registration) (see 4u2Model part of program FIG. 6);

3) Manual Sampling 74 - user exercises full control over how they sample the item.

Purchase Mode Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, after the user has sampled the item, he/she can:

1) Add the item to their shopping basket 66;

2) Order the item 68;

3) Return to the store 24; and/or

4) Return to the studio 31. Features of the 4u2Design Studio

The 4u2Design Studio part of the program includes the following unique features for users:

1) A simple method to design goods;

2) Ability to submit designs for market testing and other users to sample and review; 3) Ability to sample one's own simulated designs and simulations of designs by others in different simulated settings;

4) Ability to simulate the setting in which a different user will sample the design; 5) Ability to purchase one's own designs and designs by others; and

6) Ability to get credit based on Frequent Visits under specific conditions.

Benefits of the 4u2Design Studio

The 4u2Design Studio provides the following benefits:

1) Empowers casual users to design their own goods and collaborate on designs with others;

2) Enables disparate users to combine their designs, for example in a single Portfolio or Store;

3) Enables users to sample and purchase designs by other users who they would not otherwise be able to access; 4) Empowers an individual to design unique goods when they themselves do not otherwise have access to the necessary design tools;

5) Enables individuals to have unique designs manufactured at a lower cost because of a supplier's mass-customization manufacturing options;

6) Enables a supplier to outsource, to potential customers, design and product selection;

7) Allows suppliers to mass-customize a large number of different offerings;

8) Allows users to amass frequent visitor credits while using the 4u2Design system under specific conditions.

Unique Aspects of the 4u2Design Studio The unique aspects of the 4u2Design Studio program include a combination of the following:

1) Gives users the tools to design their own goods in a very easy-to-use manner;

2) Enables users to sell their unique designs and buy unique designs from others. This is particularly beneficial in situations where the buyer and seller would not otherwise have been able to interact due to space, time, financial or other hurdles;

3) Enables users to include their unique designs in a collection, such as a store, portfolio, show, etc., with other complementary designs; 4) Enables users to submit reviews about specific designs and vote for their top designs;

5) Enables small-scale designers to take advantage of mass-customization;

6) Allows the supplier to sell advertising space on their web site to sponsors who want to send Messages to the market segment that will visit the 4u2Design Studio;

7) Allows suppliers to reduce product selection risk by outsourcing product design and selection to potential customers; and

8) Allows users to amass frequent visitor credits under specific conditions. Description of the SmartFilter Business Model As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3, the SmartFilter Business Model, or subprogram of the program of the present invention, allows suppliers to encourage potential customers to design offerings, publish those offerings for review, "vote" on the relative attractiveness of the published offerings and buy the offerings that the supplier decides to sell. The SmartFilter Business Model allows Suppliers to:

1) Entice potential customers to design and publish offerings in certain product groups;

2) Entice potential customers to filter the offerings submitted in each product group to identify the best designs, or winners and losers in a contest; 3) Obtain rights to the future work of the designers who submit the most commercially attractive offerings;

4) Retain selling rights to all submitted offerings;

5) Retain rights to modify and sell new offerings that are based on that published by the potential customers. /// Application of the SmartFilter Business Model

Suppliers use the SmartFilter Business Model part of the program to outsource product design and product selection to potential customers. This drives down product design costs and reduces the commercial risk associated with product selection. It drives down product design cost because customers design the supplier's products at the customer's own cost. In addition, the SmartFilter Business Model drives down product selection risk because it uses potential customers to "vote" for the best designs thereby identifying the designs that potential customers are most likely to buy. Benefits of the SmartFilter Business Model The SmartFilter Business Model:

1) Empowers potential customers to design and publish offerings;

2) Encourages potential customers to submit new designs by offering periodic rewards for the best designs; 3) Encourages potential customers to vote for their favorite designs by offering periodic rewards to voters;

4) Encourages successful designers to submit new designs by paying royalties on sales;

5) Enables customers to access new and unique designs and designers. Unique Aspects of the SmartFilter Business Model

The unique aspects of the SmartFilter Business Model include a combination of the following:

1) Outsources product design to potential customers;

2) Uses rewards, and other methods, to encourage potential customers to submit new designs;

3) Outsources product selection to potential customers;

4) Uses rewards, and other methods, to encourage potential customers to select the best designs by "voting" for their favorite designs;

5) Allows users to sell original goods to potential customers in a marketplace (namely the Internet) that is broad enough to capture significant demand for unique offerings even in the narrowest niche;

6) Allows disparate designers to collaborate on unique designs and still meet tight submission deadlines.

Description of the 4u2Manufacture Business Model Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there shown are flow charts indicating how the

4u2Manufacture Business Model or part of the program of the present invention allows manufacturers to:

1) Register, with a distributor, their standard prices, lead times and terms for complete designs and components thereof; 2) View a list of orders and offer a price, delivery time and terms to fulfill specific orders.

The 4u2Manufacture Business Model also allows Distributors to:

1) Identify manufacturers that are willing to fulfill the distributor's demand for specific orders; 2) Encourage manufacturers to bid against each other to drive down wholesale prices, lead-times and improve other supply chain attributes.

Application of the 4u2Manufacture Business Model

The 4u2Manufacture Business Model can be applied in a variety of settings, such as in combination with the 4u2Design Studio shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the 4u2Design Studio program will create demand for a variety of orders. Those orders will be comprised of different:

1) Product groups;

2) Lot sizes;

3) Components of designs; 4) Lead-times;

5) Etc.

The relative importance of these requirements can change with each customer's order. For example, some customers may want the lowest price while others may be willing to pay a higher price for a shorter lead time or higher quality. The distributor may therefore want to select the most appropriate manufacturer for each order. For example, the relative attractiveness (to a distributor) of different manufacturers depends on their skill set and how that skill set matches the customer's priority of requirements for each order. If a manufacturer has the lowest prices then that manufacturer may be the most appropriate choice for the price sensitive orders. However, if a customer is willing to pay more for a fast turn around time then the manufacturer with the shortest lead time may be the most appropriate choice. Distributors use the 4u2 Manufacture Business Model part of the program to get the most appropriate fulfillment contract for each order. This drives down supply chain costs and lead times. Manufacturers use the 4u2 Manufacture Business Model part of the program to gain access to orders that they would not otherwise be aware of and to bid for orders that, for them, have a low marginal cost of production because they match existing production runs. A supplier may also be a manufacturer and may choose to fulfill an order from inventory or using just-in-time, or another manufacturing process.

Benefits of the 4u2Manufacture Business Model

The 4u2 Manufacture Business Model:

1) Empowers distributors to better manage their supply chain characteristics, such as cost, lead-time, etc.; 2) Allows distributors to use the most appropriate manufacturer for each order thereby simulating many of the benefits of mass-customization;

3) Enables Distributors to drive down their acquisition costs associated with finding the most appropriate manufacturer for each order;

4) Empowers manufacturers to find orders that they would not otherwise be able to access;

5) Empowers manufacturers to find orders that match existing and planned production runs thereby driving down their marginal cost of production and lead time;

6) Drives down the cost of marketing for manufacturers because they have access to ongoing business opportunities. Unique Aspects of the 4u2Manufacture Business Model

The unique aspects of the 4u2 Manufacture Business Model part of the program include a combination of the following:

1) Allows distributors to list orders and select the most appropriate manufacturer to fulfill each individual order;

2) Makes distributors aware of new manufacturers and their skills as those manufacturers join the group;

3) Allows manufacturers to bid on orders that meet one or more of their preferences, such as situations where the order matches an existing or planned production run;

4) Gives manufacturers continuous access to new business. Description of the 4u2Model Business Model

As best shown in the flow chart of FIG. 6, the 4u2Model part of the program allows customers to view designed goods and services in a setting defined by the customer. For example, to sample a simulation of a particular design, a customer can choose to use a mannequin that matches a specific person's looks and their dimensions. Similarly, the customer can construct a simulation of their bedroom to project the effect of new curtains that the customer is planning to buy. Application of the 4u2Model Business Model

The 4u2Model Business Model part of the program can be used in situations where suppliers and customers want the customer to sample the supplier's offering in settings familiar to, or chosen by, the customer. This is particularly applicable in situations where the customer cannot sample the physical product or actual service, and therefore, uses an e-commerce opportunity such as 4u2Design and 4u2Shop. Benefits of the 4u2Model Business Model The benefits of the 4u2Model Business Model part of the program include:

// / /// 1 ) Customers sample a simulation of the offering in their chosen environment thereby reducing their concerns related to matching the offering to its real object, and application, before purchase;

2) Suppliers can give customers better advice about the suitability of the supplier's goods and services before the customer completes a purchase. This will reduce the chances of customers being dissatisfied with their purchases after fulfillment thereby reducing returns and increasing customer satisfaction.

This in turn will reduce the supplier's costs and increase their revenues through increased repeat business from more satisfied customers. Unique Aspects of the 4u2Model Business Model

The unique aspects of the 4u2Model Business Model part of the program include a combination of the following:

1) Allows customers to sample goods and services in familiar settings before they complete an on-line purchase. 2) Allows suppliers of online goods and services to give customers better advice about the suitability of their goods and services in the customer's chosen setting.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments that can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Therefore, it is to be understood, that within the scope of the intended claims, the invention may be practiced other than is specifically described herein.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat Is Claimed Is:

1. A method for providing on-line designing of goods or services comprising the steps of: maintaining a frequent visitor database for storing frequency visitor information of authorized users; providing an on-line access to a virtual design studio; requiring registration of users to the design studio so as to qualify as authorized users; allowing authorized users to select between a variety of design formats or a shopping mode for existing designs in the virtual design studio; allowing authorized users in one of the variety of design formats access to preexisting design elements maintained in a design element database to aid in forming a design in a selected design format, or allowing authorized users to add their own design elements to a selected design format; and receiving acceptable designs from authorized users for storage of the acceptable designs in a storage database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing authorized users to discard unacceptable designs, or publish acceptable designs.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of allowing users to select between a new design format, a continue existing design format, or a redesign of a stored design format.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of allowing authorized users to order an acceptable design from a supplier.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of allowing a supplier to manufacture, or have manufactured, the acceptable design.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of signing-up acceptable manufacturers by the supplier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sampling a design in a created object before entering the design studio.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing a supplier to discard published designs that are unattractive to a market place.

9. A method for providing on-line designing of goods or services comprising the steps of: providing an on-line access to a design studio web site; requiring registration of users to the design studio web site so as to qualify as authorized users; maintaining a frequent visitor database associated with the registration of users, for storing frequency of visits information by authorized users; allowing authorized users to select between a new design mode, a continue existing design mode, a redesign mode, or a shopping mall mode for examination of existing designs; and accepting orders of select designs from an authorized user.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of allowing authorized suppliers to accept the orders and to manufacture or have manufactured the selected designs.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of signing-up acceptable manufacturers by the supplier.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of allowing authorized users to discard unacceptable designs, or publish acceptable designs.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of sampling a design in an environment created by the user before entering the design studio web site.

14. A method for providing on-line designing of goods or services comprising the steps of: providing an on-line access to a virtual design studio program having a full set of design tools; requiring registration of users to the design studio program to qualify such users as authorized users; maintaining a frequent visitor database associated with the registration of users, for storing frequency of visits information by authorized users and amassing credits for such frequency of visits; allowing authorized users to select between various design formats in the design studio program; and accepting orders of select designs from an authorized user.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of allowing authorized users to discard unacceptable designs, publish acceptable designs, or to order acceptable designs.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of allowing users to select between a new design format, a continue existing design format, a redesign of a stored design format, or a shopping mall of existing designs.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of allowing authorized users to order an acceptable design from a supplier.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of allowing a supplier to manufacture, or have manufactured, the acceptable design.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of signing-up acceptable manufacturers by the supplier.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of sampling a design in a created object before entering the design studio.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of allowing authorized suppliers to accept the orders of acceptable designs and to manufacture or have manufactured the selected designs.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of signing-up acceptable manufacturers by the authorized suppliers.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of allowing authorized suppliers to discard published designs that are unattractive to a market place.