As technology develops, so too do consumers’ tastes and desires. It used to be that consumers only needed something to look good to prove its value. Today, aesthetics are only part of the equation. The sources of materials, the manufacturing process and the environmental footprint are now all factors in the value of luxury products. We live in an age of intelligent products and a new generation of designers are leading the charge.

Frederic Pieck is one of them, a young industrial designer who creates sharp, thoughtful lifestyle designs using 3D printing. Driven by a sense of responsibility towards sustainable design, Pieck has adopted 3D printing due to its range of materials, customizability and on-demand manufacturing.

 

 

Studio Pieck’s newest concept, commissioned by the 88’er.club; the Monicker, is a fully customizable wristwatch built from modular 3D printed parts manufactured here at Shapeways. We interviewed Pieck to learn more about his design approach.

What got you into design? How did you start creating when you were younger?

It started really early. I think LEGO was the ideal basis for me to start creating stuff. After high school I went to college to study interior architecture. After the first year I realized that smaller objects got my attention more than the whole interior.

So first I started more 2D-based like laser cutting wood. After that I started to experiment with new materials and my first leather wallet collection was born. I called it “Burissa” which translates as money keeper. It was a collection made using only laser cutting and folding techniques; no other materials were added.

 

How did you find 3D printing and Shapeways?

After that adventure I wanted something different and more complicated. Because I was already a watch addict, I started thinking about creating a watch myself.

First problem: creating a watch with a small budget is really hard if you want to do some prototyping and start from scratch! A friend of mine told me about 3D printing and that’s the point where everything started. I managed to learn 3D software–I was highly motivated to finish the watch–and discovered Shapeways while searching the web. The perfect match!

I wanted a watch that was as clean as possible, minimal and slick! After the eighth prototype, the first Monicker was born: http://studiopieck.com/post/115659296890/prototype-monicker-watch-design-3d-printing

 

Describe your iterative process. How did you arrive at the current design?

I wanted more, more qualitatively, and to add some extra materials. The watch needed to be modular, and parts needed to be replaceable. For me it’s important that the customer can interact with it and create their own personal Monicker! This is where Shapeways is the perfect partner! We can launch this watch with a small budget because of the demand driven approach. Customers are free to use the colors and materials they want to make it unique and personal!

The examples you’ve shared do a wonderful job of using design to tell a story. How do you approach that?

For me, designing a new product always starts by telling a story. These day I think it’s the most important ingredient in launching a new product. You have to grab people’s attention not only by the design, but also about the story behind it; the purpose to create something new. Innovation is needed, but not only innovation–eco-friendly production and innovation.
This part is not always easy and this is an aspect of why I use shapeways. For me, open and transparent communication about how Monicker is made and who’s the manufacturer is really important. The product is clean and minimal and that needs a clean and fair production. So a blog post on the Shapeways website is a great start to tell the whole story! From design to production to the end user.