Tag Archives: 3D-printed

This 3D-Printed Soufflé Lamp Is Rising to the Top in Paris

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You know that magical moment when a soufflé rises in the oven, all light and airy and impossibly delicate? That’s exactly the energy Paris-based AEREA STUDIO captured with their Soufflé Ceramic lighting design, and honestly, it’s the kind of piece that makes you want to rethink everything on your shelves.

AEREA STUDIO is both a design studio and Parisian brand creating collectible design pieces that blend innovation with artisanal craftsmanship. Founded by designer Camille, the studio draws inspiration from the golden age of design, specifically movements from the 1940s to 1970s, with a focus on creating pieces that combine quality, durability and innovation. But here’s where it gets interesting: they’re not just looking backward for inspiration. They’re using cutting-edge 3D printing technology to create pieces that feel simultaneously retro and futuristic.

Designer: Aerea Studio

The Soufflé Ceramic comes in multiple configurations, including table lamps and pendant versions, each one a sculptural object that commands attention even when switched off. The exterior features that signature matte, pale celadon finish with horizontal striations that are the telltale mark of 3D printing. These aren’t flaws to be hidden but rather design elements celebrated for their rhythmic, organic quality. Each ridge catches light differently, creating subtle shadows that shift throughout the day.

But the real surprise happens when you turn it on. The piece reveals a glossy, jewel-toned interior in vibrant shades of pink, red, orange, and purple that contrasts beautifully with the understated exterior. It’s like cracking open a geode to discover brilliant crystals inside. The colored glaze creates this warm, saturated glow that transforms the ceramic shell into something almost alive. When lit, concentric ripples on the interior become visible, spiraling inward toward the light source like a vortex of color.

What makes AEREA STUDIO’s approach so compelling is how they’re merging old and new. Their sculptural objects play with optical effects and unique textures to transform perception and redefine functionality, all within a sustainable design approach. In an era when “sustainable” often means compromising on aesthetics, they’re proving you can have both innovation and environmental consciousness without sacrificing beauty.

The 3D printing process they use allows for textures and forms that would be nearly impossible to achieve through traditional ceramics methods. Those horizontal ripples, the irregular edges, the way each piece feels both controlled and spontaneous? That’s the magic of computational design meeting artisanal sensibility. And because each piece is printed on demand, there’s minimal waste in the production process. The technology enables walls thin enough to let light pass through while maintaining structural integrity, something that would require exceptional skill and patience with hand-thrown ceramics.

The Soufflé Ceramic’s form itself is worth examining. It’s bulbous and asymmetrical, with gentle waves and peaks that make it look like it’s mid-rise, caught in that perfect moment before it collapses. Some versions are more rounded, others taper to a point like an onion dome. The opening reveals just enough of that brilliant interior to intrigue, creating a sense of discovery. It’s sculptural furniture that happens to be functional, rather than lighting that happens to look nice.

For collectors and design enthusiasts, pieces like the Soufflé Ceramic represent an exciting intersection of technology, craft, and artistry. They’re collectible not just because they’re beautiful or limited, but because they capture a specific moment in design history when digital fabrication became truly accessible and expressive. Twenty years from now, early 3D-printed ceramics from studios like AEREA will be the mid-century modern pieces of their generation.

If you’re looking to add some sculptural lighting to your space, or you just appreciate innovative design that pushes boundaries while staying grounded in craftsmanship, the Soufflé Ceramic deserves a spot on your radar. It’s proof that the future of design isn’t about choosing between technology and tradition. It’s about finding ways to make them rise together.

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3D printed earhole covers helps football players drown out the crowd

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I don’t watch any American football but I’ve seen some actual footage (and movie scenes as well). I can only imagine how noisy it gets within the stadium, whether it’s college football or professional football. It will probably be hard to listen to anything else except the crowd’s cheers (and jeers). So what if you needed to hear what your teammates or coaches are saying?

Designer: Tamara Reid Bush and Rylie DuBois

A mechanical engineering professor and a biosystems engineering major at Michigan State have been able to produce something that can help athletes with that problem. Some teams previously just put duct tape inside the earhole of their helmets but they were able to make something better with the power of design thinking and 3D printing” earhole inserts.

These inserts were made from a bio-based plastic called polylactic acid and produced through a 3D printer. They were put into the helmet earholes and the challenge was actually to produce different sizes since different helmets of course had varying sizes. The main purpose is of course to drown out the crowd noise so they can hear play calls and the recently approved coach-to-player helmet communications in the NCAA.

While the around 180 sets they have produced are used by the Spartans, some of the Bowl Subdivision programs are also creating similar tools. For example, the Houston Texans have approached XO Armor Technologies, which can 3D print athletic wearables. After that, around 60 teams have already contacted them to produce sound-deadening earhole covers for their respective teams.

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3D-printed chairs are made from 100% recycled plastic from donation program

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3D-printed furniture is still not as common as regular furniture but we’re seeing a lot of movement when it comes to designs and concepts. Aside from the fact that it’s easy to adapt this in actual production, it can also be sustainable and eventually impactful. Most of these 3D-printing concepts try to create something that’s recyclable or made from recycled materials therefore making it more sustainable than regular furniture.

Designer: Ethan Solodukhin

The Revo Chair Concept, with Revo meaning “revolutionary”, is a collection of 3D-printed furniture and is powered by the PlastiVista Atelier program. The program actually encourages homes, schools, and communities to donate their plastic waste and those that can be used for 3D printing converted into filament. The collection includes the Revo Chair and the Stoool (yes that’s not a typo). They are made from 100% recycled plastic.

The Revo Chair uses a single-piece design and it can serve as both an actual chair but when used with a different orientation, it can also serve as storage. The photos show it’s a box-like storage although it’s not really shown how it can be turned into that although the surfaces can be something you can place objects on. The Stoool meanwhile just serves as a seat with its compact surface, although you can probably also use it as a side table if you want to.

The renders of these chairs reminds me of those small, plastic phone holders that you can get for cheap. The question of course for these 3D-printed chairs would be if they are durable enough and comfortable enough for people to sit in for a long period of time.

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3D-Printed Banana Lamp is a Cheeky Nod to Maurizio Cattelan’s Most Iconic Artwork

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A glowing bunch of bananas might sound like a quirky Maurizio Cattelan artpiece that comments on society, but the Banana Lamp by Gazzaladra is a serious nod to creativity and clever design. Crafted using precise 3D scans of real bananas, this lamp leans into nature’s whimsy, turning an everyday fruit into an arresting piece of functional art. It’s not just about illumination—it’s about sparking conversations, turning heads, and challenging the mundane with a cheeky twist.

Each lamp in the collection captures the organic details of a banana bunch with startling authenticity. From the subtle ridges on the peel to the delicate curve of each fruit, it’s evident that this isn’t just a cartoonish attempt at mimicking nature. Gazzaladra’s design merges the accuracy of high-resolution 3D modeling with a sense of humor, resulting in a lamp that feels both oddly lifelike and undeniably modern. Whether perched on a desk or suspended from the ceiling, its playful design ensures it’s more than just a light source—it’s an experience.

Designer: Gazzaladra

The Banana Lamp’s charm lies in the marriage of form and function. It’s easy to dismiss a banana-shaped lamp as a novelty, but closer inspection reveals a thoughtful balance of aesthetics and utility. The design speaks to a broader audience—not just design enthusiasts but anyone with a sense of fun and a love for standout décor. The lamp doesn’t just sit quietly in the background; it demands to be noticed, celebrated, and even laughed about. It’s a rare example of how everyday objects, when reimagined creatively, can transcend their usual roles and become something extraordinary.

Available as a 3D model on the thangs.com 3D model marketplace, the Banana Lamp is designed to be tinkered with. The hollow bananas feature a 1.6mm wall thickness, making them ideal for translucent filaments that create a glowing effect. Want a more dramatic look? Play around with painting techniques to replicate anything from green, unripe bananas to the golden hue of perfectly ripened fruit. The lamp essentially invites you to collaborate with the design, making it a unique, hands-on experience for users.

Obviously it goes without saying, but the lamp’s designed only to be used with LED bulbs. Given that plastic (especially materials like PLA or ABS) melt fairly quickly under sustained heat, the Banana Lamp isn’t made for being used with incandescent bulbs. In fact, maker ‘gazzaladra’ even recommends trying out a bulb with a sample 3D print before installing one in your house. In fact, if your printer supports PET-G or Nylon filaments, opt for those over traditional PLA filaments that are very prone to warping or melting.

The Banana Lamp is available in four distinct versions, tailored to suit different needs and aesthetic preferences. Whether you’re looking for a pendant lamp to crown your kitchen or a desk version to brighten up your workspace, there’s a banana—or a bunch—for you. Each variant is compatible with common socket kits, such as the Ikea Strala, ensuring that even the technical side of this lamp remains approachable. A thoughtful design element allows for single or multicolor printing, so you can either keep it minimal or let your imagination run wild with custom-painted ripeness levels.

Gazzaladra’s Banana Lamp feels like an art exhibit brought into the home, a nod to the idea that even the most mundane objects can inspire joy. It’s a reminder to take design less seriously sometimes—to embrace the quirky and unexpected. Whether it’s lighting up a dinner party with its cheeky charm or simply sitting as a silent conversation starter in your living room, the Banana Lamp is an invitation to look at the world through a more playful lens.

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Palm-like floor lamp mix 3D printed and handmade elements in a surreal design

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Most floor lamps are designed with modern home interiors in mind, whether they come in minimalist forms or industrial aesthetics. Even those with more organic curves and shapes offset that with metallic materials or finishes that still make them look at home in the majority of modern interior designs available today.

Of course, those aren’t the only options, and this strange-looking floor lamp puts a different spin on nature-inspired design. Made from clay but shaped like tree trunks, these lamps put an almost otherworldly vibe to a space as if you stepped into a parallel world with alien colors and unusual shapes.

Designers: Ana Milena Hernández Palacios, Christophe Penasse (Masquespacio)

Lamps don’t just give light; they can also change the ambiance of a space. With the right design combined with a themed interior, a living room can become a cinema, a spa, or even a jungle. Some have designs intended to fade into the background, while others capture your attention, imagination, and envy. While most lamps are made from a combination of metal, plastic, and sometimes glass, those are definitely not the only options available.

It might be named after a flower, but the Ceramic Blossom floor lamps stand tall like trees. In fact, if you’re familiar with the grooves on the trunk of a palm tree, you might even mistake these lamps for one, except for the fact that they come in colors other than earthy tones, giving them an alien vibe. The lighting part itself is enclosed in a white dome, adding to that otherworldly aura.

The lamp isn’t made from wood either and is constructed using a combination of traditional and modern techniques. The core of the “trunk” is 3D printed from clay, while the petal-like protrusions are carefully made by hand. These are assembled together before they’re fired to give it a glazed finish. The body is made in segments rather than as a whole and then simply stacked together.

The Ceramic Blossom lamp can definitely stand on its own, becoming a point of interest in any room motif. That said, it is perhaps best used in an interior with nature-inspired design and indoor plants, especially large, leafy plants. This gives an image of walking into a fantasy world, capturing your imagination and perhaps even inspiring your mind.

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This 3D-Printed city car is AI-assisted emotional companion for city rides

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Automatic transmission cars were good, self-driving EVs even better, and now ones that can console you on a bad mood day are god sent. Yes, this is the future of mobility that’s upon us and the Robo-EV by PIX Moving Team is the living example.

The micro car envisioned for choked city mobility is completely 3D-printed out in one piece making it structurally strong and easy to manufacture for commercial use. The Switzerland-based company has crafted a prototype of this bold vision and we are impressed.

Designer: PIX Moving Team

The real-time manufacturing processes employed in manufacturing this four-wheeler make way for complex component manufacturing, ease of customization, and of course modularity of use. There are other benefits as well including lightweight yet robust chassis and frame. The team used basalt composite to make the suspension ultra-reliable minus any bells or whistles. Even the wheel arches are made from 3D-printed metal.

Its real USP lies in the smart technology embedded on the inside. Robo-EV comes with an AI system that can detect the mood and tone of the driver in real-time. Based on the data, the intelligent car can provide emotional support via its large language model. The interaction can be two-way as the car’s voice system also functions as a voice assistant. In a way, you won’t need a buddy on long trips when you’ll be driving this Swiss EV on the roads.

Robo-EV touts regenerative braking adding to its reserve of battery power, and extending the total range. PIX Moving Team tested the two-seater vehicle on the road and the results have not yet been shared with media houses. The electric vehicle of the future is targeted primarily towards ridesharing and public transport domains. More than that it gives a clear vision of what the future of city transportation will be like.

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3D printed chess pawns transform into queens thanks to magnets and springs

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Chess is a game that has existed for centuries, and it hasn’t really changed much during that time, especially in recent decades. The rules of the game are pretty much the same, which includes “power-ups” that were invented way before the term even showed up in video games. Of course, these moves don’t require any special piece outside of what’s already included in the entire set, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything to spruce it up.

This rather elaborate 3D printed design, for example, solves the practical problem of how to represent a pawn that has reached the opposite end and “evolved” into a queen. Sure, you can just try to remember which is which, but wouldn’t it be easier if you had spare queen pieces instead? Better yet, why not just literally evolve the pawn instead, keeping the chess set simple, relatively?

Designer: Works By Design

“Queening” is what happens when a pawn is crowned and gains the queen’s large movement powers when it reaches the opposite end of the board. In some cases, when your queen has already been captured, you can simply swap out the pieces. But what if your queen is still there or, by some stroke of luck, you have two pawns that become queens?

This form-changing pawn is one solution that utilizes 3D printing, springs, magnets, and a rather complicated internal design. The challenge was to take a regular-sized pawn and have it not only expand to the size of a queen but also exhibit its features, particularly its flared crown. If you’ve ever watched Transformers, then you might get the idea more or less.

The design underwent several iterations, particularly with the spring mechanism that holds the pieces together and then pushes them out to expand. In the end, the simpler version won out, though the final pawn size was definitely larger than normal. Fortunately, it still fits within international standards, so it probably won’t be contested in an official match.

The 3D-printed pawn uses magnets in its feet to trigger the expansion mechanism, so placing it on any metal surface, like the back row of this custom-made chess board, would make it spring into action, so to speak. It’s definitely a convoluted design for a rather simple problem, but it also adds a bit of excitement and thrill to the game, becoming a goal of its own in addition to actually winning the match.

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Make your own Steam Deck handheld gaming PC using a modular laptop

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Handheld gaming devices are quite the fad these days, especially now that major PC makers have all joined the bandwagon. Although we’re reaching a point where all internal specs are becoming identical, there’s still a variety of designs and features available. Just like laptops, however, these designs are fixed and you can only select from what others have already made.

Embodying the spirit of desktop computers, this latest DIY project enables you to build your own Steam Deck clone, presuming you have the parts and skills to assemble one. Unlike other configurations, however, this isn’t relying on some low-power computer like the Raspberry Pi but instead leans on the power provided by a modular laptop design.

Designer: Beth Le

There is no shortage of mods and projects to build custom handheld PCs, whether for gaming or light computing, but the majority of these use small but under-powered single-board computers or SBCs. These are cheap, easy to cram into small shells, but will hardly be able to play any games outside of retro emulators. The problem is that there isn’t an SBC powerful enough to support that use case.

That’s where the Framework modular laptop comes in. Thanks to its modular design, it is possible to actually purchase the mainboard of such a powerful computer, and the 13-inch variant happens to be an adequate size to stuff inside a 3D-printed gaming handheld shell. Although it doesn’t exactly have gaming-worthy specs, it’s still powerful enough to run some AAA games with low settings.

The Beth Deck, which is the name for this hot new build-it-yourself handheld PC, doesn’t stop there. It also uses a matching Framework 13 battery and many off-the-shelf parts. Everything that can’t be bought can be 3D printed, and the claim is that you barely need to solder anything. You could almost say it’s like playing with LEGO, except with computer parts instead of bricks.

It’s not the perfect handheld design, of course, since the Framework 13 mainboard isn’t designed for that purpose. It does, however, reveal the possibilities available with such a modular component available for as low as $199. It might even inspire other designs that customize not just the appearance but also the controls. After all, if you can easily make a Steam Deck clone, why stop at being just a Steam Deck clone?

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3D Printed lamps made from cornstarch plastic exude cute candy-like vibes

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3D printing has truly revolutionized the design and production industry, giving anyone the power to create almost any form they can think of. That revolution, however, came at a price to the environment, increasing the use of plastic material even further. Thankfully, there has been some significant pushback and changes in this young industry, as different kinds of material become printer-compatible, including food, metal, or even wood. There are even attempts at using alternative source materials for plastic, like this playful 3D-printed lamp that uses a base that you might have never thought of: corn starch.

Designers: Alexandre Touguet, Lise Rissel

Of the many types of materials used for 3D printing, PLY or polylactic acid plastic is one of the most popular. Unlike most plastics that are made from petroleum, this thermoplastic uses organic material, in this case, corn starch. This gives PLA a more sustainable character, although sometimes minimally so. It is biodegradable, but only under specific conditions that aren’t always easy to meet naturally.

It’s still a step in the right direction, nonetheless, especially since it opens the doors to more interesting designs when used in 3D printing. ALT Light is one such example, using 3D printing to bring not only light but also a joyful atmosphere to any space. Although its design might be possible to execute using traditional manufacturing processes and harmful plastic, the product demonstrates the economic and environmental benefits of a more sustainable approach to design and production centered around 3D printing.

ALT Light starts from the bottom with a normal rectangular block, if you could call a block with vertical ridges “normal” in the first place. As you lift your eyes, higher, you are the block seems to flare open, creating the semblance of a traditional conical lampshade. It stops halfway through this transformation, though, creating a sense of instability and dynamism simply through forms, as if the lampshade is trying to break free from its confines.

The lamp can come in different combinations of colors for the base and the lampshade. The transparent top gives it a jelly-like appearance, while the translucent version is like hard candy. The ribbed surface does more than just make the forms look interesting, they also create an interplay of light and shadow that mesmerizes the viewers. In addition to their unique designs, these lamps are all made in order to cut down on material waste, and each creation has minute imperfections that give each ALT Light lamp its own unique character.

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This Retro iPhone Case turns it into a Makeshift Old Windows PC with Clippy and Internet Explorer

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Quite literally the opposite of Back to the Future, this iPhone 16 Pro case is more like “Forward to the Past”.

When you buy a phone, chances are you spring for a case immediately for one of two reasons – to either protect your phone, or to personalize it. However, Printables user Retron Print may have invented a new reason to add a case to your phone. Meet the iPhone Retro Case – a case that takes your cutting-edge smartphone and transforms it into a marvel of old-school technology. The two-part case sandwiches your phone in between, turning it into an old-timey CRT monitor (albeit with a functional main camera and dynamic island). To complement the case’s old-school design, Retron Print also equipped the phone with a retro home screen and custom icons and widgets. Although I’d personally love to have the iPhone stick to a Macintosh-based system, this one is unabashedly Windows, with a non-functional Clippy icon on the screen. Quite a downgrade from Siri and Apple Intelligence, no?

Designer: Retron Print

The beauty of the case is that it justifies every aspect of its retro design without compromise. Look at monitors from times of yore and they often had thick, chunky bezels. While most monitors came with a ‘chin’ which would either house a floppy disk reader or just control buttons, this retro case shifts the asymmetric chin to the side, with front-facing buttons that actually work. Built cleverly into the case’s mechanism are buttons that face forwards, but trigger the action and volume buttons on the side of the iPhone. The detailing’s prebuilt into the case’s design, and all you need to really do is 3D print and then assemble.

On the front, the case features an oval frame reminiscent of old CRT monitors, although it doesn’t obstruct the screen in any way. It’s a small but meaningful detail that gives the case a distinctly vintage vibe. Around the back, long, deep grooves evoke the look of classic desktop computers and also provide better grip. These thoughtful design elements ensure that while the case embraces nostalgia, it still offers the user a modern experience with improved functionality and tactile appeal. Meanwhile, speaker systems are accounted for too, with slots on the top and bottom that let you listen to audio from your iPhone.

When it comes to color options, Retron Print suggests using filament in shades like sandy beige, gray, or light brown to fully capture the retro essence. These muted tones are reminiscent of the classic electronics from decades past, enhancing the nostalgic appeal. This attention to detail extends to the print process itself. The case’s front and back panels are best printed on a textured print plate, adding an extra dimension to the overall look and feel, while the buttons should be printed on a smooth plate to maintain their tactile nature.

For those eager to bring a bit of retro flair to their iPhone, the case is available for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models. You can purchase the STL files for just $10 on Printables.com and print the case yourself, although this just includes the retro case’s 3D files and not the wallpaper and app icons. When it comes to color options, Retron Print suggests using filament in shades like sandy beige, gray, or light brown to fully capture the retro essence. These muted tones are reminiscent of the classic electronics from decades past, enhancing the nostalgic appeal.

However, commercial use of this model is restricted. To sell prints of this design, users must become a member of the Retron Print Commercial Club, ensuring that the creator, AndrzejG, receives credit and support for their work. This stipulation ensures that while the model is available for personal use, it remains protected against unauthorized distribution.

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