Designer Spotlight: Gordon Lardi

March 14, 2016

For this weeks designer spotlight we are featuring Gordon Lardi of Rip and Tear. Gordon’s love for sculpture led him to designing his own art and, with 3D printing, eventually jewelry! Learn more about his process and inspiration below.

Tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? Where are you located?

My name is Gordon Lardi. I have been an Industrial Designer over 10 years living in Coral Springs, Florida. I have worked developing products in a variety of fields my favorite of which is jewelry. It was my love of making sculptures out of clay and metal that led me to the creative field of Industrial Design.

What’s the story behind your designs? What inspires you?

I think most would agree that the majority of my designs have a masculine feel but sometimes I try to get in touch with my feminine side. My biggest inspiration is nature. I am always amazed how many design problems have already been solved in nature and I try to tap into that whenever possible. I am also inspired by the infinite possible ways that you can you can fill a given space. Just when you think that every avenue of art has been tried, somebody comes up with an idea that is ground breaking and that gives me hope that there are limitless designs that are just waiting to be realized. A tip I would give to other artists is that the quality or beauty of your work is not necessarily related to the amount of work put into it, but rather I find the best ideas are the ones that seem so simple that you smack your head and say “Why didn’t I think of that?”

How do you promote your work?

Currently I use Facebook to promote myself as well as word of mouth through friends and family members.

Who are your favorite designers or artists? Who in the Shapeways community has served as an inspiration to you?
I don’t know their names but I am very impressed by the designs from Apple and Ferrari. I am equally impressed by some of the designers here at Shapeways.

If you weren’t limited by current technologies, what would you want to make using 3D printing?
I would love to have a printer that could build assemblies using multiple metals particularly memory metals and silver with an ability to over mold or inlay opaque or translucent enamels or wood.

Anything else you want to share?
I feel lucky being a designer in this day and age of emerging 3D technologies and am very excited to see what the future brings in my lifetime and my childrens’.