Table of Contents
Hello everyone,
I’m Le Cuong, I’m thrilled to share with you a lamp I designed, a project born out of my passion for physical product design and 3D printing. This creation wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible guidance and support from my teacher Agustine from Spain. Thank you so much!
Situation:
The Context
This lamp was inspired by my desire to put the skills and knowledge that I learned from Domestika courses such as “Product Design: From Modeling to 3D Printing” and various Skillshare courses to a good use. With a background mainly in software product management, I wanted to explore the world of physical product design and 3D printing since I learned I know their existence. My goal was to design a lamp/product that was not only functional but also visually appealing and suitable for production at scale. This project also represents the start of my journey to launch TRANJSTUDIO, my first physical 3D printed product website.
Let me take you back to where it all started. I’ve always had an interest in creating useful tools and toys. As a child, I would disassemble toys to better understand their mechanics, frequently breaking them but occasionally improving them, there is a mechanical product designer in me all these years.
When I discovered 3D printing in 2018, it felt like I was entering a world of endless possibilities. The ability to create custom designs that combine functionality and aesthetics was extremely exciting.
Up until 2024, I finally, finally be brave enough to put down the money to have my first 3D printer and so… the journey have begun.
Some of you have read other posts on my blog know that I spent a year of 2021 learning about electronic engineering as well.
And so, all the things I have learned added up, this year of 2024 I decided to turn all into a real project—a 3D printed lamp.
The task: Making it
The Project – 3D printed lamp
My Goal
The primary goal was to design a lamp that could be produced at scale using silicone molds for the main body, allowing for the use of materials such as cement or jesmonite. This ensures durability and a distinct visual appeal. In addition, I wanted to incorporate a electronic unit that would allow me/the user to precisely control the brightness of the lamp.
Creating this lamp required a number of key goals:
- First, the lamp needed to be easy to be able to produce at scale. Using silicone molds, I was able to create a design that could be replicated multiple times without losing quality while also saving significant time on my 3D printer.
- Second, the lamp had to include some kind of through-hole electronic unit type (so it can be lasted longer compared to surface mount components) that enabled seamless user interaction. I wanted users to be able to precisely control the brightness, making the lamp adaptable to different moods and settings. This resulted in the inclusion of a potentiometer unit, which not only adjusts brightness but also has an on/off switch for added convenience. The potentiometer also has a customizable knob that can be tailored to different themes, trends, and shade designs, giving the lamp more personality.
- Finally, the lamp’s aesthetic appeal should be universal. It had to look great in any setting, from a minimalist modern living room to a cozy reading corner. The design needed to be both versatile and unique, showing 3D printing’s ability to create intricate and beautiful objects. This is why I chose a cylindrical shape to complement a variety of interior styles while allowing for creative and detailed 3D printed designs.
Action:
Design and material selection
Component design
The lamp consists of several components, each crafted for both style and functionality.
The main body, designed to be 3D printed friendly and later can be used for molding to make a silicone mold, the main body has several 3D printed components:
- E27 socket holder
- Dimmer holder
- Knob
- Bottom lid
- Shades
Each of these pieces was iterationally designed with both aesthetics and practicality in mind, it tooks me 31 revisions to have the final of final of … of the lamp.
SAD fact – Challenges 🙁
- I faced a number of challenges while creating the mold for this lamp. I failed three times, wasting a few kilograms of PLA plastic during prototyping. To make the best of these setbacks, I’m currently designing a mold to recycle waste plastic into keychain toys.
- Furthermore, my printer failed twice due to filament becoming stuck in the nozzle during the prototyping stage. This experience demonstrated the impracticality of mass-producing the lamp body with my 3D printer, as each one takes seven hours to complete. This would be impossible if orders started coming in.
- And more failures coming… I’ll talk about these soon along the way launching this 🙁
Electrical components
The electronic elements are designed for efficiency and user-friendliness. The lamp features a 40mm E27 socket and a sturdy potentiometer unit, allowing users to easily adjust the brightness. The on/off switch is integrated into the potentiometer and turns off the lamp when rotated counterclockwise to the starting position. This straightforward design ensures a seamless user experience.
I spent considerable time researching and selecting the best electronic components for the lamp on Shopee and Alibaba. The 40mm socket is compatible with a wide range of bulbs, giving users the flexibility to choose the lighting that best suits their needs. The potentiometer is a standout feature – it allows for precise control over the brightness, making it easy to create the perfect ambiance. The integrated on/off switch is a simple yet effective addition, ensuring that the lamp is as user-friendly as possible.
The potentiometer also has a customizable knob that can be changed to match different themes, trends, and shade designs, giving the lamp more personality. This feature allows for a high level of personalization, allowing us to match the lamp’s appearance to any specific interior decor or personal style. Whether you prefer a minimalist, modern look or a vibrant, eclectic theme, the knob can be easily customized to improve the overall appeal of the lamp. This adaptability not only makes the lamp more appealing to a larger audience, but it also highlights 3D printing’s versatility and creative potential in custom product design. By providing a variety of knob design options, I can cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences, ensuring that each lamp is truly unique and tailored to the owner.
To come up with these features, I spent weeks researching and reading comments on Reddit, MakerWorld, Cult3D, and other forums. I also created a comprehensive mood board to guide the design process. While this may not be the best lamp design in the world, it reflects my current skill level and serves as a viable MVP to showcase on my 3D design website. This project is a significant step in kickstarting my journey in the world of 3D design.
The design process I use can be found here #design-process-of-this-lamp
3D printing innovation
One of the lamp’s top features is its 3D-printed shade. 3D printing technology allows for the creation of intricate designs and shapes that traditional manufacturing methods cannot achieve. This innovation not only demonstrates the potential of 3D printing in interior design, but it also adds a unique twist to the lamp.
The shade of the lamp is where 3D printing really shines. Traditional manufacturing methods frequently limit the complexity of designs, but 3D printing transcends these constraints. The shade has intricate patterns and shapes that are nearly impossible to achieve using conventional methods. This not only demonstrates the versatility of 3D printing, but also gives the lamp a unique appearance that distinguishes it from mass-produced alternatives.
Market study and Vietnam Introduction
Opportunity in Vietnam
3D printing is still relatively new in Vietnam, creating an excellent opportunity to introduce this 3D printed technology.
The lamp’s 3D-printed shade and the knob are the key selling points (at least as per my belief at the point of writing this). Its complex forms and intricate patterns are not only beautiful, but also demonstrate the capabilities of 3D printing. This distinguishing feature makes it an appealing product for future customers looking for something different from the market’s standard offerings.
Honestly, I do believe that I will be able to find a market fit for this lamp and the related 3D-printed products I plan to create. However, since this market is relatively new, there are inherent uncertainties about actual market needs. Key questions I need to consider include:
- Will people perceive it differently from other non-3d printed products?
- Are they willing to buy it?
- What challenges might I face when stepping into the physical product space?
- Do my assumptions about the design hold true for long enough?
- How quickly can I get market feedback?
- How can I track the metrics I want in the physical product space?
As a product manager transitioning from software to 3D-printed products, I must also consider:
- What are the key differentiators that make my lamp stand out from existing products?
- How can I effectively communicate the unique value proposition of 3D-printed lamps?
- What is the optimal price point for my target market?
- How do I ensure the quality and consistency of produce-at-scale lamps?
- What distribution channels should I use to reach my audience?
- How can I manage production costs while maintaining high quality?
- How do I handle returns and customer service for physical products?
- What is the environmental impact of my production process? This is important
- How can I market my products effectively online and offline?
- What are the most effective ways to gather and analyze customer feedback?
- What partnerships can I form to enhance my product offering?
- How do I ensure that my designs remain innovative and appealing?
- What legal considerations do I need to be aware of in terms of patents and copyrights?
- How can I scale my production to meet increasing demand?
- What are the best practices for packaging and shipping 3D-printed products?
- How do I maintain a balance between customization and standardization?
- What role will customer reviews and testimonials play in my marketing strategy?
- How do I build a strong brand identity around my 3D-printed products?
- What are the most critical metrics to track for product success?
- How do I ensure that my product development process remains agile?
- What technologies and tools can I leverage to improve my production process?
- How can I create a sustainable business model for my 3D printing venture?
- How do I engage with the maker community to drive interest in my products?
- What promotional strategies will drive the most traffic to my website?
- How do I balance innovation with practicality in my designs?
- What customer segments should I target initially?
- How can I use social media to build a following and drive sales?
And many more I have in my mind that constantly drive me crazy as a Product Designer cum Product Manager for this product.
I am still in my progress of finding out the answers and prioritize them due to constrain in resources I have, this is a journey for me just same as any other product I build, software or physical products.
Initial result:
Personal achievement
Making this lamp was thrilling. It allowed me to apply my knowledge to a real-world project and turn my ideas into products. This experience has also given me the confidence and skills to pursue 3D printing and interior design projects.
Seeing your ideas realized is very rewarding. This project showed how passion and technical skills work together. While learning about 3D CAD design and 3D printing is rewarding, creating a functional and beautiful product is even more so. This project has improved my skills and confidence, inspiring me to tackle more ambitious software and physical product projects.
Learning to design objects with Fusion 360 and a 3D printer has been important to my software product manager career. These tools have improved my technical knowledge (such as design constraint and parametric design process) and supported key product management practices. Understanding user needs, iterative development, and rapid prototyping are essential to designing and building 3D objects, as they are in software product management.
From ideation and design to testing and refinement, making a physical object is similar to launching a software product. This hands-on experience with 3D printing has improved my ability to manage cross-functional parts of a product team, balance technical feasibility with user need, and adapt to challenges. Physical product design has changed and added more to my perspective on problem solving and innovation, enriching my software development and product management as a whole.
I’LL UPLOAD FINAL PRODUCT PICTURES ON TRANJSTUDIO.COM
Design process of this lamp
| Stage | Description | Activities | Tools/Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideation | Generating ideas and concepts | Brainstorming, Research, Market Analysis | Mood boards,Sketching, Mind Mapping – Miro app, Cults 3D, Indestructable |
| Concept Design | Developing initial design concepts. | 3D Modeling, Material Selection | Fusion 360, Miro |
| Prototyping | Creating prototypes to test the design. | 3D Printing, Assembling, Iterating | 3D Printers (P1S), Bambu Lab studio, PLA/PETG materials |
| Testing | Evaluating the prototypes for functionality and aesthetics. | User Testing, Feedback Collection, Adjustments | Surveys, A/B Testing with friends and family only for now, will reach strangers later. |
| Refinement | Improving the design based on feedback and testing results. | Design Modifications, Material Testing, Feature Enhancement | Fusion 360, Bambu Lab studio |
| Final Design | Finalizing the design for scalable production. | Detailed Design, Final Prototyping, Quality Checks | Fusion 360 |
| Production Setup | Preparing for scalable production using molds. | Mold Design, Material Sourcing, Supplier Negotiation | Silicone Molds, Supply Chain |
| Pre-Launch Testing – In progress | Conducting final tests to ensure production readiness. | Batch Testing, Quality Assurance, Final Adjustments | TBD |
| Launch – In progress | Releasing the product to the market. | Marketing Campaigns, Distribution Planning, Sales Channels Setup | Social Media, E-commerce Platforms, TBD |
| Feedback Loop – Planning | Collecting and analyzing feedback post-launch to improve the product. | Customer Reviews, Post-Sale Surveys, Data Analysis | Google Analytics, CRM Tools, etc… TBD |
| Iteration – Planning | Implementing feedback to refine and enhance the product. | Design Adjustments, Feature Updates, Continuous Improvement | CAD software, Prototyping Tools, TBD |
Market and business oppotunities
Launching this lamp on my physical and 3D product design website marks the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey in Vietnam. I hope to appeal to a wide range audience by providing a product that combines modern design and cutting-edge technology. The website will feature not only the lamp, but also other creative ideas that reflect my vision and creativity.
Starting this website is more than just a business venture; it allows me to share my passion for daily product design and 3D printing with a wider audience. By offering innovative products like this lamp, I hope to attract a wide range of customers who value modern design and cutting-edge technology. Other projects and ideas will be featured on the website to showcase the breadth of my creativity and vision soon. This is only the beginning, and I’m looking forward to the journey ahead.
I’LL UPLOAD FINAL PRODUCT PICTURES ON TRANJSTUDIO.COM SOON, please stay tune ^^
Vision
Future Goals
Looking ahead, my long-term goal is to expand the range of products on the website by incorporating more 3D-printed design techniques and exploring various materials. This approach will ensure a continuous stream of innovative and unique products. I also plan to educate the market about the advantages of 3D printing through blog posts, tutorials, and workshops, fostering a community of like-minded enthusiasts. Check out my Tiktok below!
The lamp is just the first step.
LeMaker3D
Not sure if this gonna apply for me but.. let’s assume so for now.
I have a vision for a diverse range of products that leverage the capabilities of 3D printing. By experimenting with different materials and designs, I aim to keep the offerings fresh and exciting. Beyond products, I also see the website as an educational hub.
The end!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on my lamp project! Feel free to reach out and connect with me for any questions or suggestions. Stay tuned to my blog for more updates and insights into future projects and articles. Your support and engagement mean a lot as I continue to explore and innovate in the world of Product Management and now with the addition of 3D printing. Let’s keep in touch and embark on this creative journey together!
Le Cuong
By the way this is my new Tiktok channel, dedicated for my 3D printing journey, follow me!