This week we are featuring Umberto Menasci! His shop is full of contemporary rings of all shapes and sizes, from minimalistic architecture shapes to complicated gears. Make sure to check out his shop, SOONdesign and be ready to have a hard time decided just one piece to choose!
Tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? Where are you located?
I’m an interior and product designer from Rome, Italy. I study interior and product design at an international school in Rome call IED. After some years of practice in architecture, I started to work like freelancer and now design stores and apartments.
What’s the story behind your designs? What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from the modernist and brutalist architectures from the school of Bauhaus, the Wiener Werkstatte and Dieter Rams design. In the case of jewelry I play with elementary geometries to create small structures.
What brought you to 3D printing with Shapeways?
Shapeways is an extraordinary opportunity to express creative ideas. With Shapeways you can give to an idea a solid and physical existence in fast way.
How did you learn how to design in 3D?
The elementary knowledge in my school of design in Rome IED that I increased with a lot of exercise and work during years.
How do you promote your work?
Usually on the web with social networks. (Facebook, Pinterest)
Who are your favorite designers or artists? Who in the Shapeways community has served as an inspiration to you?
Dieter Rams, I like his creativity balanced with a consistent logic and rationality.
If you weren’t limited by current technologies, what would you want to make using 3D printing?
I’m first of all an interior and furniture designer, so I hope that this technology will be used for the industry of furniture with the same simplicity that Shapeways offers today for small objects.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS SHOP:
- SO many rings! Great browsing
- Though there are a lot of renders, the rings with prints have amazing photography
- Sections for easy shopping
- Great branding
Thank you, Umberto. Amazing work, can’t wait to see how much more creative you can get! Don’t forget to follow Umberto on Facebook and Pinterest! To be featured, email aimee @ shapeways.com.