A Look at 3form's History

Creating New Material Possibilities
Founded in 1991 by Ray Goodson, 3form created a vision to develop design-driven materials building material with an unyielding commitment to environmental responsibility. In 2007, 3form became part of the Hunter Douglas Group and opened new operational centers in the USA, Europe and Asia.

The Birth of Ecoresin and the Varia System
The early 3form team worked tirelessly to fully develop the technology leading to Ecoresin and the technology that enabled design elements to be encapsulated with translucent resin panels. Nine years and 5 patents later, the result was the award -winning Varia platform which set new standards in environmental responsibility and design excellence, and is widely heralded as the most significant new product category within A&D in the last 20 years.

Low-Impact Manufacturing Paradigm
3form's vision meant re-thinking traditional mass-production manufacturing models which waste resources by creating excessive amounts of product inventory. Early on, 3form adopted a "pull" or "build-to-order" manufacturing strategy which entirely eliminates excess inventory and ensures that resources are only consumed on an as-needed basis.

Flexible, Efficient Operations
Today, 3form's state-of-the-art manufacturing centers have been designed to provide unprecedented flexibility coupled with high efficiency and a minimal environmental footprint. 3form customer orders are manufactured only as they are received and made to exact specifications and quality standards. There is no waste, no extra transportation to and from warehouses, and no finished product utilizing valuable space in warehouses.

Full-Circle: It's the Idea that Matters
3form believes that great organizations are always built on principles and ideas rather than policies and procedures. Over time, 3form's business developed into 3 high-level principles:

1. Challenge the boundaries of architecture and design
2. Do less harm to the earth
3. Improve the human experience (at 3form, for our clients, and others) Together, these principles are known as "Full-circle" and serve to guide 3form’s design and business activities.

Design Excellence
While 3form invites their clients to test the boundaries of the product, it is their visionary approach that keeps the design community in delightfully captivated. Plugged into the currents of contemporary design, the international design team works at the intersection between art and architecture at the forefront of emerging themes. Most recently introduced, translucent wood has sculptural and light transmitting properties. A classic material is elevated to a modern marvel.

Collaboration & Innovation
3form has created a culture of client driven innovation, nurturing and capturing ingenuity which occurs at the intersection of distinct disciplines such as architecture, design, engineering, and fabrication. Based on this principle, 3form has built multi-disciplinary teams of leaders in their field whose focus is to support the needs of our architectural clients and help realize the vision behind breakthrough projects around the globe.

Responsible Products
3form has been honored with multiple awards related to the design and manufacture of environmentally-responsible products. Simply stated, 3form seeks to make products that are eco-efficient and don't create unnecessary harm. Varia, a 3form product line made from ecoresin, is non-toxic, recyclable, incorporates high-levels of reclaimed material, and does not involve any harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process. The majority of 3form’s products contribute to US LEED certification. 3form uses leading 3rd-party certification company SCS to audit and certify recycle content claims.

Taking Responsibility at End-of-life
3form's highly successful reclaim program gives the materials a second life, while minimizing the likelihood of the product resting in a landfill. As part of this program, 3form takes ownership of panels at "end-of-life." They arrange for return shipping to 3form’s factory, where materials are QC'd, refurbished where possible, and any remaining blemishes are cut away. These materials are offered for sale on line at a reduced price.

Replacing paper with the web
3form produces only a minimal amount of printed collateral material such as product brochures, choosing rather to focus on the web as a communication medium. As a result, 3-form.com has set new standards in the area of web design, ease of use and interactivity.

Connectedness: We are all in this together
What do a top industrial designer in Paris and a small group of AIDS and HIV-affected women artisan in southern Africa have in common? Both contribute to developing award-winning 3form materials and products. Guillaume, a top 3form designer, commutes back and forth from Paris where his wife and son reside. 3form Design Director Ray Wenzel, works together with several non-profit groups in developing exciting new products. Itemba, for example, is made by Xhosa-speaking African women artisans (see Itemba story). By connecting the dots and fusing contemporary design with traditional methods and social responsibility, 3form creates products whose beauty is more than just skin-deep.

So what is next? What does the future hold?
We can't tell you, but we know it will be exciting, fun and in line with our core values. The pace of innovation at 3form continues and is focused on some of the most significant projects happing today. We see a macro trend where good design will inhabit an ever widening spectrum of the human experience. On a more somber note, we also believe that the environment will become a defining issue in each of our lives. However, in spite of the challenges, we are optimistic that the power of un-hindered creative energy will help us address many of the most significant issues we may face.

Giving back to the earth
3form has always held the view that business must provide solutions to the environmental crisis currently facing our planet. These solutions must provide clients with the ability to achieve aesthetic and functional objectives, while minimizing the footprint or harm done to the environment in proving the products and services.

As result, 3form's ecoresin is non-toxic, recyclable, incorporates high-levels of recycled material, and does not involve any harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process. In order to minimize the chance of any materials ending-up in a landfill, 3form also has an active reclaim program where the company takes ownership of panels at "end-of-life" and then makes these panels available for resale on the web at a reduced price, thus giving them a second or third life.

Sustainability
Sustainability is the core of our corporate culture and this philosophy is apparent in our products, processes, and business practices. Our leadership believes "how" business is conducted is as important as "what" is produced. Because of this philosophy, 3form has earned a reputation for environmental stewardship, and has attracted a group of employees who demonstrate a tangible commitment to the environment and work hard to create a culture of education, engagement, and responsibility.

What does the future hold?
3form has several basic beliefs about the future:

1. Design is becoming more essential to a wider spectrum of the human experience
2. The environment will become a defining issue in each of our lives
3. Volatility of all sorts will continue to increase

Based on these beliefs 3form is focused on building and organization, which can adapt and reconfigure itself to take on new challenges as well as provide integrated design leadership. People connected to their environment(s) are always at the core of what we do.