Comments on: We Are All Designers

By: Jeudi Cornejo Brealey

Jeudi Cornejo Brealey — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:31:32 +0000

I’d love a 3D printer, but I don’t think I’d ever get away from my computer then! Actually, I’d have to wait in line behind my twin boys. And I can relate, like yours, my father would have been the first to go out and buy one, just like he did with the first home computer, when no one could see the point of owning one. LOL.

I also agree, the Alt talks should be like TED talks. Would LOVE that!

PS) There was a very funny Big Band Theory episode a few weeks back that involved a 3D printer.

By: Sarah Stickland

Sarah Stickland — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 03:27:26 +0000

Chris’ key note was by far the highlight of Alt for me. I literally ran up to him as soon as he finished to talk to him. I didn’t have a question I just wanted him to know that I hung onto each and every one of his words. That I got chills and teary eyed. I can’t stop thinking about this new industrial revolution, and I tell everyone, even random strangers about it.

I am the one in the photos talking to Chris. I had no idea we were even being photographed.

Thank you for putting together an amazing event!

By: Tamsin

Tamsin — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:09:52 +0000

“Alt” means “everything” in Norwegian, which seems kind of fitting for your backdrop, don’t you think?

By: Katy

Katy — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:02:20 +0000

You can print another one?! AMAZING! I had no idea they were so affordable these days (or so small!) we had them in the shop at my architecture studio in college, but it was a giant beast of a machine and extremely expensive (even just to run). I now feel like I MUST own one! How fantastic!

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:42:27 +0000

Hey John. Sorry to call you a poor sport when you weren’t trying to be one. And thanks for expanding on your thoughts.

I hear you on the less, less, less urge. That topic and related ones come up frequently here on Design Mom and it’s an opinionated crowd that loves to dive in to a meaty subject. But I didn’t read your comment as less, less, less, I read it as a mini-lecture to the Design Mom community about staying off our computers and making things by hand. A lecture we don’t really need. You may have been reading this blog for years, but since I don’t recognize your name from earlier posts, it felt to me like you were jumping in and lecturing a community you’re not actually familiar with.

I realize the post I wrote used 3D printers as an example, but I don’t think the focus of the post was: We All Must Buy a 3D Printer Stat!! I was attempting to introduce the concept of desktop manufacturing and how it can and will change our world. As someone with a partner that’s super familiar with 3D printing, I can see how that topic would seem like old hat to you. But it’s new and exciting to many of us.

As for the idea of 3D printers just creating more, more, more stuff, I think that’s a pretty common thought to come to mind and was one of the questions posed to Chris Anderson during the Q&A at Alt Summit. Will this new revolution mean we make more “stuff”? Or that we make exactly what we need, and ultimately less stuff? There were also great questions about intellectual property and who owns which designs in this new manufacturing landscape. All good questions! And worth discussing.

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:23:53 +0000

A retreat sounds fantastic! Go for it.

By: Monica Lee

Monica Lee — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:41:56 +0000

Jenean and I could not stop talking about his talk and 3-d printers all night! In my head I had even started to plan a mini “retreat” to see the shop/set up in SFO. As an artist who get her art produced on products to see the possibility or the ability to do the manufacturing ourselves is mind boggling!….I need to plan that retreat….

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 03:36:38 +0000

http://printrbot.com/shop/printrbot-jr/

Most of the printers that would be around $500 or less you would have to build yourself. The amazing thing with these machines is once you have one, you can print another one!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 03:31:48 +0000

Our 3-D printer is actually going in the background as I type. This is our second, we built our first one from a kit, and this one we bought completed. We have a jewelry company and that was the main incentive to purchase one, there is an endless list of things we want to print for our personal and business life.
In terms of plastic, this printer only prints in PLA and ABS. The PLA is a corn derived plastic, which is what we choose to print in. Other 3-d printers can print in resin, metal, and glass.
Resins, another type of plastic, were also considered to be extremely toxic and non-renewable. We currently use a plant derived resin in our work, so things are changing rapidly when it comes to materials and plastic specifically.
I love your blog, and am so happy you have touched on something I am so passionate about!

By: Kacy Faulconer

Kacy Faulconer — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 01:58:34 +0000

You should produce all your Alt Talks. They can become like TED talks.

By: John

John — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:52:52 +0000

Okay, we’ll, didn’t mean to be a poor sport. Don’t think I was. Just maybe not understanding the example here to this audience who, as you say, understand making things for themselves. It’s possible I’m fighting against the urge that we all need the new cool printer, or small batch this, or silk shirt, or hand painted ax. I am working to swim against that tide.

Less. Less. Less.

By: Melissa - I Still Love You

Melissa - I Still Love You — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:33:06 +0000

I loved his speech. I’ve been wanting to learn solid works for 3D printing. If you can’t afford a 3D printer, but want to dip your toes in 3D printing, I’ve recently worked with Ponoko.com – they do custom 3D printing and laser-cutting. They’ve been great to work with!

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:10:54 +0000

Awww. C’mon, John! 3D printing may be old and boring to you, but it’s exciting to those of us who are just being introduced to its wonders. Be a good sport!

No one is saying we need to be tied to our computers — I write a blog for a living, but my kids keep paper and pen journals. I imagine most Design Mom readers are up to their ears in glue, paint and glitter; they certainly don’t need reminders that they can make things by hand. : )

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:07:20 +0000

I know Detroit is a historical hotbed for making. I’ll bet your MakerFaire is dynamite!

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:06:26 +0000

You’re a sweetheart, Kristin! Thanks for the compliment. I sure try to look my best at Alt Summit — and I totally had stylist help me with my hair that morning. : )

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:04:52 +0000

I still haven’t seen one in person! So glad you were able to.

By: John

John — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:00:30 +0000

My partner works at the largest and probably most well-known firms in the3d printer field, and our 2 boys made dollhouse furniture out of balsa wood, pine, nails, glue and paint. Jut sayin’, doesn’t hurt to step back from the computers

By: Mary Aviles

Mary Aviles — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:18:12 +0000

I just finished reading Democratizing Innovation by Eric Von Hippel and I’ve been extremely interested in the Maker Movement for the last several years. I’m in Detroit, MI and we’re lucky enough to have access to the MakerFaire for the last two years at the Henry Ford Museum.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:00:16 +0000

yes, the 3D printing technology is amazing!!

By: Bridget

Bridget — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:23:31 +0000

An MIT alum that I know, AnnMarie Thomas, is working with the Maker Educational Initiative to foster creativity, it's a fascinating project! Also - my mom is the Aerospace coordinator at Farnsworth Aerospace PreK-8, and they have classes in CAD and 3D printing...for middle schoolers! So awesome.