Opening an entirely new door for customisation, accuracy and speed in production, the process of 3D printing is beginning to revolutionise the world of design. As an open-source platform, Thingiverse allows both 3D printing experts and novices to become connected from all around the globe through three steps - make, share and discover.

Thingiverse as a group platform encourages designers, engineers, or CAD drawing experts to experiment, share their work, inspire others, as well as be inspired by their peers. But it's not just for developers. Anyone can browse 100,000 3D models to download for their own personal use. Once a design is found, users can save it or prepare it by placing the model on the 3D build plate - where adjustments to size can be made - and simply hit print. The formats downloaded can be typically used for 3D printers, laser cutters, milling machines and many other technologies to physically create the items shared by Thingiverse users.

As an online space dedicated to the sharing of user-created digital design files, Thingiverse fosters shared innovation and encourages the community - regardless of technical expertise or previous experience - to create and remix 3D models. All designs are encouraged to be licensed under a Creative Commons license, meaning that anyone can use or alter any design.

Designed by
Jason Krieger - USA