Annie's 3D Design Blog

I’ve learned so much from this class. From not having any knowledge in 3D printing industry to becoming a designer in producing our “SCUP.” I think everyone in this division has become a “maker ”  in a way. As a designer, I am more confident in using SketchUp program to create anything of my desire, either two dimensions or three dimensions, with the knowledge I’ve gained, I’ve in control of what I want to create. As an entrepreneur, I haven’t thought much about taking up any kind of business with 3D printing, but if I have a chance I would really like to start a cafe with my own fabricated furniture pieces. As much as I fantasized my idea, I think the goal is getting an inch closer with the skills I’m constantly exceeding. As a student, I think this year brought a raft of fresh ideas to student, not many students know about the 3D printing world so it’s a great introductory class to bring creative students together and finish a project as a team.

With my experience with SketchUp, I’ve learned to focus and check every detail from every angle to make sure every piece is in place where it should be. I think I miscounted on this step in the beginning of this semester, because I usually see things from one perspective and ignoring the residue that are left from other perspectives. As hard as it is, SketchUp is a really great introductory program for all newcomers to practice and be proficient in creating digital models of your 3D parts. Still, it’s a challenging skill to get everything perfect at first, sometimes it makes me frustrated because the object and details turned out to be worse than what you imagined. From our printing attempts, we got so many modifications to come to our final product. This is really a persistence job of trying and testing.

I guess my biggest advice to myself and others is to be more attentive and careful with every detail and see thinks from different perspectives more than focusing on one specific area. I suppose with this knowledge and skill, 3D printing can help me with a slew of projects in life and at work. My future idea is as simple as to incorporate 3D printing into my lifestyle more often, maybe in the future instead of running to Home Depot, I can replace the nail with a 3D printed version. It’s a matter of the little steps you take to make it bigger!

My process of exploring through the creation of 3D printing furniture has just commenced. I think I still have so much to learn, but I’d gained a great deal of knowledge about this subject. First, go beyond your imagination for whatever you’re planning to serve. Sometimes, the crazier the idea, the more popular it becomes. The world now is more acceptable to move outside the comfort zone than ever before, so it’s better to create something that really can fascinate every individual rather than doing something just ordinary. The idea came be implicated what’s already made and incorporate new ideas, or creating something fresh and new. Second, I’ve discovered that it’s harder than you thought to start something that sounds easy but it’s very complicated when you are in the office. I’m thinking of making a piece of furniture that can bring comfort in seating. I sketched so many models, but it’s just not how I want it to be. The difficulty will be harder if I try to sketch the digital model. So sometimes, it’s very important to realize the difficulties that’s coming up and keep a persistence mind to finish the project. Lastly. It’s important to faith in whatever you’re doing. For example, like our coffee project we had accomplished in class as a group, we didn’t realize we had gone that far until we look back at how many steps we had taken to make it a final piece. From not knowing how to start, to finding a solution for our need, I think it’s important to have believed in whatever you’re doing and believe it can be done is the most authoritative. I think it’s very important for all individuals to experience what you can work with your bare hands and become a  maker, rather than relying on consuming the bulk market. Sometime, the joyful moments within the process can teach you a lot of lessons.

I visited the Out of Hand exhibition at Museum of Art and Design for inspiration. It’s very interesting seeing each piece of art in the exhibition, every piece is very delicate and special.

In particular, I enjoy every creation of chair in the exhibition. Especially, the White  Skin and Bone Chair, the delicacy of the lace exterior was beautiful and dreamy.

Overall, after visiting the museum, I think the furniture has become one of the main themes for 3D printing nowadays. The idea of recreating some ordinary piece into your own customized version is heating up in the industry.

The main conclusion I got from visiting the exhibition is the fact that every piece of furniture is very simple but yet with some complicated details. For example, colors are usually consistence and light, but it’s the stitches and details molding the entire piece together fascinated me.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/09/3d-printing-decor-furniture_n_1952726.html

In this Huffington Home post, the author described  “Over the last few years, 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, has become a viable construction method to make everything from jewelry, to toys to medical equipment, as the availability of three-dimensional printers has become more widespread….”

So called, additive manufacturing, I think this advance technique will continue and broaden within the next few years and create greater opportunities for the consumers.

It’s always my passion to learn and study about interior designing. Interior design can be as simple as freestyle decorating your own bedroom or bring into a more professional level into creating something spectacular. My favorite part about interior designing is nothing less than my Shopaholic moments with furniture, especially the  edge and modern furniture pieces. However, furniture can be very costly sometimes, especially for antique pieces, it can cost up to thousands. Therefore, my crazy thoughts about 3D printing furniture lighted up. It’s a more of a modern twist of making rather than taking the traditional carving and molding each piece, customizing and designing your own piece of furniture is much more enjoying than spending thousands at retailers. For example, some magnificent piece of furniture such as John Briscella’s Throne of Paris incorporate ideas from the original Ghost Chair and 3D molding the map of Paris onto the throne.

An idea like this can be simple as it seem, but the techniques and skills behind the making of the final product is incredibly time consuming. However, the outcome is just as worthwhile and wonderful. Eventually, with every maker moment, the final outcome is always enjoyable because it’s custom made with your own thoughts and creativity. Thus, that’s the joy of 3D printing, is to turn something imaginary into realistic rather than plain consuming through a third party.

11/11- set my goals and research about 3D printing food and furniture industry. Decided to focus on one specific field then move on to another field. I choose to focus on 3D printing furniture first.

11/18 – identity needs and solutions, write out blue print for the plan

11/25 – Visit museums, 3D printing manufacture companies for research plans.

12/1 – Brainstorm and hand sketch models

12/8 –  practice on SketchUp with different models. If necessary, contact with professionals with extra helps.

12/15 – Planning to take extra courses to succeed and become more skillful with sketching the 3D digital models.

Aftermath of 3D Design class – after gaining some skills with SketchUp and I want to focus on designing furniture pieces. Starting off with sample models and then making them into real life size.

Future plan – after gaining more professional skills in furniture designing, then I will try to move on to interior designing with incorporation of fabricated furniture pieces.