With the growing consumer demand for sustainability, manufacturers and designers increasing numbers of factors to consider when creating new products from material sources and processes to packaging and distribution lines. While this is well within the capabilities of companies of any scale, it certainly adds a level of complexity to companies, particularly small businesses with limited staffs and already small margins. But this strive to not only survive, but also compete and thrive, often leads to some of the most interesting innovations.

I read about one such business concept recently on Fast Company. As part of the One Good Chair design competition, Andrej Blazon has decided to forgo the consumer product model and sell the intellectual property instead. In this case, it’s the design blueprints for a chair that can be constructed out of a single sheet of virtually any material – a global idea that can be replicated almost anywhere.

Sure, it caters to a very small audience that has to want to get its hands dirty and once the design is purchased once, it can be duplicated innumerable times, but it also points to the potential for a network of niche industries. Tools and services to help individuals create on a local, smaller scale.

Regardless of its success or lack thereof, it poses a number of provocative ideas to consider.