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Should 3D Printing Worry Graphic Designers?

The newest 3D printers have made 3D printing technology affordable, which could create a highly competitive industry among home-based inventors, designers and other innovators. The possibilities of 3D printing seems endless, and begs the question whether traditional 2D marketing materials will be replaced by more dynamic 3D versions – and risk the livelihoods of so many graphic designers who have spent years honing their 2D design skills. Should 3D printing worry graphic designers?

3Dprinting

No and absolutely not. First, 3D printing isn’t going to replace any marketing materials anytime soon. Moreover, there is little 3D printing can achieve that traditional printing hasn’t already figured out how to do. A glance at the many different shapes of packaging proves that point. But what’s more important here is that 2D marketing materials are already optimized for use. Brochures fold flat, not into cubes, for a reason; and so there would be little purpose (other than novelty) for a 3D printed brochure, for example.

Moreover, 3D printing represents another opportunity for graphic designers. You already have the foundation for crafting amazing designs; now, you can apply it to the 3D world (if you’re not already a 3D modeler) and make yourself more marketable now and in the future. Add in just a touch of structural engineering knowledge, and you can attract clients who need small-scale 3D manufacturing and those that want to develop innovative new ways to market their products and services with 3D printing (in addition to traditional 2D materials). You can also create templates for products and sell them to others to customize and print on their own 3D printers.

If you want to stay ahead of the game, invest a little time to try your hand at 3D design. You don’t even have to purchase a 3D printer (though they can be had for around $1,000); you can simply send your design off to a 3D printer to be printed and shipped to you. 

3D printing is here to stay, but it will be some time before it’s mainstream. Either way, there is no reason for graphic designers to worry; 3D printing is just one more way you can make money as a graphic designer. Sure, it might be an outstanding niche to venture into, but it’s not the only niche.

Decide if 3D printing makes sense for your portfolio. If it does, gain experience by creating your own 3D products. If it doesn’t, forge forward without a second guess. Either way, you’re making the right decision: the decision that works for you.

Do you have experience with 3D design and printing? Tell us about it in the comments!

Written By

Brian Morris writes for the PsPrint Design & Printing Blog. PsPrint is an online commercial printing company. Follow PsPrint on Twitter @PsPrint

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Brandon Hart

    January 23, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    In my opinion 3D printing will be a very “niche” type of area for a very long time. Even when it becomes affordable for the common consumer it’s not going to be an all-in-one solution for everything out there. It simply doesn’t have the materials to work with that many want.

    That being said it is a promising solution for many going forward it just needs time.

  2. Dayo

    January 30, 2014 at 5:51 am

    I dont think that they should be worried as much as have the opportunity at new revenue streams or career opportunity with a little bit more training.

    3d printing is here and is going to be the norm soon, graphics designers are lucky they already have some of the hardware to work with this new tech.

  3. Michael Levanduski

    February 10, 2014 at 3:14 am

    3D printing is such a new and exciting innovation that people of many different professions would do well to start trying to figure out how they can utilize it to better their business. Not just graphic designers, but inventors, existing businesses in every field and so much more. This is going to be big and will be around for a long time.
    Thank you for your article!

  4. Donald Quixote

    February 26, 2014 at 8:03 pm

    3d printing is amazing, when I first heard about it I almost didn’t believe it. I agree with you though, I think that 3d printing will only be one for of graphic designing and that there will be a need for all the other forms for years to come.

  5. Anish

    April 13, 2014 at 5:18 pm

    I don’t think so as being a graphic designer its a kind of new learning for us. 3D printing is realy amazing

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