Industrial design or craft manufacturing?
The two approaches aren't really opposed: they simply answer different needs.
Two logics, two production volumes
Industrial design targets large volumes, amortised over expensive tooling, with a very low unit cost but a high upfront investment. Craft or on-demand manufacturing, by contrast, targets single units or small batches, with a higher per-part cost but no heavy tooling investment.
How to know which logic fits a project
A unique need, a highly personalised object, or an unavailable replacement part almost always fall under on-demand manufacturing. A project targeting several hundred or thousand identical units, on the other hand, justifies seriously looking into industrial design, with its own tooling costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is craft manufacturing always more expensive per unit?
Generally yes, but it avoids the tooling investment that would make industrial design absurd for a single part.
Can a project move from craft to industrial later?
Yes, that's a natural evolution once a small batch shows a real need for larger volumes.