This project investigates the materials and materiality of 3D printing – how people perceive and interpret the 3D-printed objects and how to use it to support 3D printing personalization experience. 3D printing provides opportunities for people to create or adapt objects to their needs and preferences. While research has frequently studied applications of 3D printing, little is understood on how people engage with 3D-printed objects after production.

Activity

• Comparison of different materials to capture people’s perception and interpretation of each material
• Comparison of the type of experience and participation (e.g. casual-makers vs. expert-makers) to identify the needs in personalization
• Design of 3D printing software optimized for personalization

ALUMNI

• Dr. Sharon Lynn Chu (ELX Lab Director)
• Beth Nam (PhD Student, Computer Information Science & Engineering)