Design for additive manufacturing. The application to the AEC industry
Additive Manufacturing (AM) has revolutionised the field of product design by enabling more complex, customised, and innovative solutions. However, despite its potential, the integration of AM into mainstream product design faces several challenges including technical limitations, economic barriers, and design complexities. This paper explores the application of AM in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector through a qualitative research methodology combining a systematic literature review with original case studies. Key findings highlight the potential of AM for sustainability, material innovation, and design customization in product design for AEC. The study also discusses emerging implications for scalable, smart, and hybrid construction systems.
Authors
- Bruno Acácio Ferreira Figueiredo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8439-7065)
- Filipe Brandão (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3378-0176)
- Paulo J. S. Cruz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3170-4505)
Institutions
- Laboratório de Paisagens Património e Território (PT)
- University of Minho (PT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Design Journal
- Published
- 2026-11-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/14606925.2026.2748488
- Primary Topic
- Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Regional Development Fund