This week we are highlighting Haydn Bao, one of three behind the awesome drone shop, Fusion Imaging. A talented group of three hailing from Australia, Haydn is the product designer of the team. Haydn gives us some insight into why 3D printing and drone accessories work so well together, as well as where their inspiration came from. With a shop full of great branding and drone accessories, we are very excited to highlight Fusion Imaging.

Tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? Where are you located?
I’m Haydn Bao, the designer among a small team of drone enthusiasts based in Sydney Australia. We originally designed components for ourselves, but soon many others wanted us to purchase our designs. That’s how Fusion Imaging was born.

Designer Photo

 

What’s the story behind your designs? What inspires you?
The most important principal behind all my designs is to create products free of the bounds of traditional manufacturing. To utilise 3D printing to achieve an advantage. It is of little benefit to design 3D printed items that are already innovations achieved or adopted in traditional manufacturing means. I believe the possibilities of 3D printed benefits over traditional is what inspires and drives my designs.

Take a drone component for example: With 3d printing comes the ability to design structures on the inside of components (much like bone marrow) for structural integrity in strategic places while reducing weight and maintaining smooth exterior surface for aerodynamic purposes. This philosophy allows me to create stronger and lighter components than what’s possible with traditional manufacturing, where weight reduction might come in the form of milling slots on the outside.

What brought you to 3D printing with Shapeways?
I’m a hands on person with a mix of graphics/cad/engineering experience. Before our shop Fusion Imaging I have long utilized Shapeways services to solve many of my own engineering challenges and personal projects.

How did you learn how to design in 3D?
Google. Ridiculous as it sounds, the internet is probably the closest thing to downloading “how to fly a chopper” as seen in the matrix.

How do you promote your work?
In most models I have placed a beautiful winged imprint of our logo. Combined with typography, it not only serves aesthetic purposes, but also allows users to recognize, share and know where to get our work. This means our products are promoting themselves, usually in the form of Facebook activity, forum discussion and happy users spreading our name through word of mouth.

Who are your favorite designers or artists? Who in the Shapeways community has served as an inspiration to you?
I look to Behance and other online design galleries for inspiration mainly. Architectural works, for example those by Zaha Hadid inspire me to a great deal in creating functional designs that are also beautiful at the same time.

If you weren’t limited by current technologies, what would you want to make using 3D printing?
Transforming drone capable of low earth orbit!

Anything else you want to share?
The power of the internet is an amazing thing that someone in Australia can design a product, have it manufactured either in the Netherlands or the U.S. and have it sold and shipped to people all around the world. We have sold to over 35 countries and new ones are being added every week. The ability to market worldwide using social media and have a facility like Shapeways has changed our lives. We would like to thank all our customers who have followed us, supported us, and spread the word.

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS SHOP:

  • GREAT photography; detail and context shots
  • Branding on photography makes for easy recognition of brand
  • Great sectioning of shop for easy shopping
  • Experimenting with Beta Products

 

Thank you, Haydn! So interesting to hear about how 3D printing and drones work so nicely together! Keep up the amazing work – such a beautiful shop. Don’t forget to follow along on Fusion Imaging’s website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest. To be featured, email aimee @ shapeways.com!