Life is an exhausting mess sometimes and, when it comes to buying things, it’s impossible to find a product that’s just right for you. Luckily, as 3D printing spreads across the globe, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to find items that can be tailored to suit your needs. The latest is StuffHub, a San Francisco startup that wants to connect designers and consumers through 3D printed e-commerce.
At StuffHub, designers have the opportunity to test out new ideas using the limited run capabilities of 3D printing. Before going out to mass produce an item or to find a company willing to mass produce it for you, creative types can upload their designs to StuffHub and have them printed on an individual basis on demand. And, while the process will be somewhat easier and more affordable to upload a 3D model to sell on StuffHub, the startup will also take your 2D sketches and drawings and, for an extra fee, turn them into a 3D printable file. They sell your idea and you get a fraction of the profits.
For consumers, the site curates a load of fresh designs that you can customize to your liking. The current customization options are mostly limited to size and color, for the moment. So, you can purchase a Lego-fied iPad or iPhone case and select the color that it’s printed in. Or you can purchase a doggy bow tie and size it for your pop, choosing a hue that matches her eyes. As the company develops, however, it may be possible to edit objects more exactly, sliding parametric design options as MixeeLabs offers or modifying text the way that Zazzy allows.
Based on the neat designs already on StuffHub, they may be on their way to an extensive library of quirky printed objects and, with a little luck and love, could become the go-to place for connecting designers to consumers. Hell, I might just get that iPad Mini case for my brother and the doggie bow-tie, if sized appropriately, could be perfect for my future cat. My wife, Danielle, insists that, if raised right, our one-day Siamese, Andre, will only wear bow ties.
