Designer Spotlight: Simon Tcherniak - Shapeways Blog

Designer Spotlight: Simon Tcherniak

This week we are highlighting London based designer, Simon Tcherniak. The professional furniture designer had a chance to use Shapeways to create lovely ornaments.

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

I’m a bespoke furniture designer living in London. One day Shapeways will have a printer big enough for me to send them my furniture designs, but in the meantime, I’m really enjoying being forced to ‘think small’.

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

For me the key is collaboration. My furniture designs are all collaborations with the users – I love the design dialogue and I think you always end up with something more exciting than if either of you had worked alone. Working with Helen and Colin David on their commission at the V&A was a real thrill. The original commission was just to create one heart shape that could be used as a mould for vacuum forming, but the first prototype excited them so much that they decided to print every decoration. Good product design is hugely satisfying (especially as that’s how I make my living!) but I’m even more excited by 3D printable Art.

What brought you to 3D printing with Shapeways?

I read Dezeen’s magazine ‘Print Shift’ and Shapeways was listed there. I was going to buy my own printer, but I realised that if I want to print the best quality and push the boundaries, I’m gonna need the best printer around … and then replace it when it gets outdated. If you want to stay ahead, unless you’re a millionaire, it just doesn’t make sense to buy your own.

How did you learn how to design in 3D?

I’ve been using SketchUp (with various plugins) to visualise my furniture designs for years, but I’d never had to create an actual printable solid form before. It took some time to get the knack of that, and more time to learn how to model with curves. But the latest version of SketchUp Pro makes finding and using plugins really easy (Solid Inspector and Artisan are both invaluable). Given that I only started experimenting in May of 2013, and I’ve now got models on the tree in the V&A, it’s been a bit of a roller-coaster!

How do you promote your work?

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We even managed to get Derren Brown to tweet about us – he’s got over a million followers, so that made a big difference. I’m now looking for a new person to collaborate with. They need to be fun to work with and have great ideas, but if they have a significant following that they can also promote to, that’s a real plus …

Who are your favorite designers or artists? Who in the Shapeways community has served as an inspiration to you?

Joshua Harker and Brian Chan both inspire me. Beautiful work.

If you weren’t limited by current technologies, what would you want to make using 3D printing?

A 3D printable chair that can customise to the client’s exact body shape and design preferences.

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS SHOP:

Thanks so much, Simon! Hope to see more for the upcoming holiday season. Follow Simon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and check out his website and shop! To be featured, email aimee @ shapeways.com.