A method for manufacturing a thin film structural system including a thin film structure includes depositing a reinforcing material in a liquid form in a predefined pattern on a thin film membrane, and transforming the reinforcing material in the predefined pattern to form a reinforcing element connected to the thin film membrane. The reinforcing material may be deposited in a melted form and solidified by cooling, may be transformed by a light or laser induced chemical reaction, or may be deposited and solidified such that the reinforcing element is at least partially embedded in the thin film membrane. The predefined pattern may redistribute loads around a damaged portion of the thin film structure, or define a hinge, a folding line, a stiffening feature. The reinforcing element may be electrically, optically or thermally conductive, to communicate with a device included in the system. The system may be a space structure.