This weeks Designer Spotlight focuses on Han-Yin Hsu, an architectural designer using the body as a new landscape for jewelry.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? Where are you located?
I moved from Taiwan and graduated with a Master’s Degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture in 2011. After working at several interior design and architecture offices, I realized I needed to express my ideas more directly so I decided to work on my own designs starting with 3D printed jewelry.

What’s the story behind your designs? What inspires you?
I like to think of the body as a landscape for jewelry. My designs are focused on expressing the elegance of this landscape, and exploring the gesture of each element as it rests on the skin. I imagine 3D printing as a new physical ‘word’ for people to communicate with. It goes beyond language because it is physical, but it is also stored digitally, so it’s widespread. I am really excited when people wear my design with a big smile. It makes me feel that they heard me and are giving me a response!
What brought you to 3D printing with Shapeways?

Google.

How did you learn how to design in 3D?
During graduate school it was common to present our architectural ideas using 3D printed models. So that’s where I became familiar with modeling in 3D as well as how to output it.
How do you promote your work?

I’m using Facebook to share my progress, and I’m making an effort to make all my pictures look as good as I can. You are very welcome to follow my page!

Who are your favorite designers or artists? 
I like the sense of the space created by architects such as Alvaro Siza, Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Enric Miralles. I like the sense of the pleasure from the artist Henri Matisse. I also draw some inspiration from Italo Calvino’s poetic writing style.
If you weren’t limited by current technologies, what would you want to make using 3D printing?
I want to print with recyclable materials. I hope eventually 3D printing technology could lead us to an environmentally friendly and creative life at the same time! 

Anything else you want to share?

Thanks for the chance to be in this interview. I appreciate that Shapeways provides a great environment for all the makers to experiment with their ideas!

Check out Han-Yin’s beautiful jewelry in her Shapeways Shop or her website, and if you’d like to be featured, email natalia@shapeways.com