Questions about 3D printing 3

Todays questions are from Jarkko from the University of Tampere in Finland who says:

Our aim is to find out how new technologies in 3D printing, CAD software and design processes are changing and how the new "open design generation" differs with traditional desing practices.

1. What is your education level? For how long have you been involved in 3D printing area (as user or developer)? For how long have you been involved in product design in private or open community?

Nearly finished with a Master's Degree. I've been involved in 3D printing for a year as a designer, and 8 months as a user.

2. Could you please describe in detail your design process (with pictures or words)?

It depends on what I'm designing, but for the creative stuff my design process starts with a sketch, working out the rough details. Then I begin modeling in 3D where the details are filled out. Then I print and redesign, then print again. The wonderful thing about 3D printing is you never have to stop designing as long as you're willing to print.

3. What components, tools and applications does your design process include?

Blender. Blender and paper. I use a design process that my grandfather used to use called "Eyeball Engineering" updated for the digital age.

4. What is your starting point for the product design (do you start from the scratch or do you continue the work of somebody else)?

Depends on where the inspiration came from. I have a lot of things that are derived from other people's ideas. I have some things that came straight from me. It's clear to me that the more successful ideas are the more original ones, but sometimes that's not where the ideas come from.

5. What other parties or interfaces (colleagues, local communities, services provided by companies) are involved in the design process? 

6. What are the sources for your inspirations?

That is an interesting question. I suppose in some ways every one in my life around me is involved in the design process and provides inspiration. Designwise, others around me are pretty much only involved peripherally. For the most part I work on my own.

7. What are the benefits and drawbacks of derived (open source driven design) design process?

Being able to take something apart, even digitally, and see how it works, benefits everyone I think.

8. In a typical case, do you design a product for yourself or do you have a specific customer or need in your mind?

Typically I design for myself and I hope that there are others like me out there somewhere.

9. What motivates you to work in open design community?

I don't really know except to say that doing so feels "right". But it's a challenge. It's tough to, for instance, think of making a business when you're being open since being open invites being stolen from. Not a big deal unless there's money involved, in which case it becomes a huge deal. Can openness work in the "real" world? I don't know, but I hope so.

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