This week we are highlighting designer Peter Albertz, who is creating lovely designs around 3D printed items with upcycled objects. From jewelry to vases, Peter’s designs capture space as open structures, and he invites customers to personlize the products themselves.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? Where are you located?
I graduated at the Dutch Design Academy and I’m living in Haarlem the Netherlands working as innovation manager at Forbo Flooring. It is famous for Marmoleum, a sustainable bio-based floor covering. My passion is about sharing ideas and evolving them by collaborating between talents into valuable sustainable design concepts.
What’s the story behind your designs? What inspires you?
My designs at Shapeways are characterized by the fact that they capture a space by an open structure. I hope to invite the user to personalize them by upcycling daily disposables and transform them into a unique piece of sustainable design. I get my inspiration from exploring the obvious and everything around me.
What brought you to 3D printing with Shapeways?
For me since 2011 Shapeways was and still is the most affordable printing service to bring my ideas into real concepts. The high quality makes it possible to use the 3D prints as real products.
How did you learn how to design in 3D?
As designer my ideas are born in my mind and I’m used to visualizing them by sketching or modeling with my hands. Since digital manufacturing methods exists like 3D printing we need 3D files. I started to work with SolidWorks to design in 3D and got experienced with Rhino and SketchUp.
How do you promote your work?
Besides my shop at Shapeways, I promote my work by my website and some videos on YouTube.
Who are your favorite designers or artists?
It is difficult to favourite some out of many inspiring artists and designers but for now I would favourite Tom Dixon, David Trubridge, Scholten & Baijings and Maarten Baas.
Who in the Shapeways community has served as an inspiration to you?
I am still impressed by the birdnest-eggcup from Gijs who is a perfect example of combining minimal design with humor.
If you weren’t limited by current technologies, what would you want to make using 3D printing?
It would be awesome when we can print clear glass available in several transparent or translucent colors.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS SHOP:
- Great overall branding
- Great photography with detail and context shots
- Overall design is similar, can tell it’s from one brand
- Fun shop description
Thank you, Peter! Keep up the amazing work – the combination of design and personalization of your products is incredibly unique and well executed. Check out Peter’s website and Instagram for more inspiration and product! To be featured, as always, email aimee @ shapeways.com.