Peter Saville's Unknown Pleasures album art for Joy Division is everywhere. While you've probably seen questionable placements on every article of clothing from T-shirts, to nail art, to oven mitts, the shaky waveforms (derived from images of radio waves emitted from a pulsar) actually work incredibly well in the 3D printed format.

To create his 3D version, designer Michael Zoellner edited the original album art using the programs AutoCAD and OpenSCAD, and printed his version using a Makerbot printer. In the spirit of all things open source, Zoellner has made his printable image available for download. [via Hypebeast]

Omote 3D Shashin Kan touts its pop-up store, which recently occupied a Gyre mall in Shibuya, Tokyo, as the first 3D family portrait scanner and 3D printer project. We liken the concept as much to a photobooth that spits out an action figure of yourself as the family photo portrait gallery. Either way, we could see 3D portrait figurine creation really taking off.

Omote 3D's three-step process requires the subject or family to pose for 15 minutes for 3D scanning, the creation of a model in software based on the scanned data, and finally the 3D printing of the miniature figurine in color.  

Olan Mills, are you listening?

On February 9 in celebration of New York Fashion Week, the Ace Hotel is hooking up with 3D printing company Shapeways, a select group of talented analog jewelry designers, and CAD modelers to show how digital technology can revolutionize the industry.  

Designers including VeraMeat, Ursa Major, In God We Trust, and others will team up with CAD modelers thefuturefuture, Bits to Atoms’ Duann Scott, and Kostika Spaho for an interactive jewelry bazaar that lets visitors take part in the creation of their own custom-made pieces via MakerBot 3D printers.

But how will this whole thing work exactly? We asked Vera Balyura of VeraMeat for the details:

NoMA: How will the interactive part of the jewelry bazaar work? Did you have to prepare designs in advance?

VeraMeat: We did prepare and design a custom-made two finger duster ring. I think the original idea was to have our ring printed in front of the customer, but now due to time limitations the orders will be made after the event with the personalized custom details. We have fun working in this new way and are excited to get customer feedback once they receive their VeraMeat. We’re so excited to be a part of this Ace event as we love Ace. And it's wonderful to learn a new technique.

NM: Were there any materials that you normally use that you could not due to the 3D printing process?

VM: We use silver a lot and that was an option so we didn’t have a problem.

NM: You’re analog design process is intricate and on a smaller scale which makes your pieces special. Do you see 3D printing as a way to branch out and pursue further retail opportunities—more products for a larger audience?

We have three retail stores and an online store already—two stores in New York and one new store opening in Beverly Hills on February 12. So we have been able to grow the VeraMeat brand using normal casting technique. We have a lot of flexibility with this historic style. 3D printing is just another exciting option.  

Local Designers Print 3D is open to the public Feb 9, 1-5pm in the lobby of the Ace Hotel, NYC.

Ace Hotel, 20 W 29th St  New York, NY 10001; (212) 679-2222

High concept architecture is often good for challenging us with a whiz-bang, revolutionary design idea. In the case of Universe Architecture's "Landscape House" design, it's good for at least two. The concept includes a Möbius-inspired design that has walkways turning into ceilings and vice-versa. But even more intriguing is the idea of a 3D-printed house, which might just be a decade away if the pundits are to be believed.