Eyewear has long been a staple in the fashion industry, with designs ranging from classic to quirky. However, even the most innovative designers can face constraints in the design process, such as budget limitations or manufacturing capabilities. This is where John Mauriello, an industrial designer renowned for his 3D-printed eyewear, found inspiration using PolyJet 3D printing technology.
As the design lead for Protos Eyewear, Mauriello had already made waves in the industry with his custom-fit 3D printed eyewear. However, seeking new inspiration for future designs, he turned to the Stratasys J55 PolyJet 3D printer for prototyping. With this high-end, full-color multi-material printer, Mauriello was able to create multiple samples of his outlandish designs, evaluating colors, finishes and testing a wider range of ideas quickly and easily.
Using the J55 Prime, Mauriello created colorful sunglass prototypes inspired by the elements of earth, wind, fire, and water. His goal was to ramp up the “cool” factor of eyewear, while exploring themes that are all around us but often go unnoticed. By using PolyJet printing technology, he was able to prototype accurately and on demand, with fewer sample errors, in a fraction of the time, and at volumes that are impossible through traditional means of manufacturing.
As an industrial designer, being open to exploring new techniques in the creative process is key to innovation. Mauriello believes that it’s important to diverge outward in order to keep progressing and to avoid reaching a plateau. By sharing his experience with PolyJet 3D printing technology he hopes to open the door for other designers to continue exploring new design techniques and to create even more daring and innovative eyewear designs.
In conclusion, John Mauriello’s experience with PolyJet printing technology demonstrates the importance of seeking out new inspiration and exploring new design techniques in order to innovate in the eyewear industry. With the J55 Prime PolyJet 3D printer, designers like Mauriello can prototype their designs faster, more accurately, and in greater volumes than ever before, allowing them to push the boundaries of what eyewear can look like.
