Formlabs Mark

Fall 2023

Scope

Individual
Four weeks

Background

In this project, I studied the visual branding language of Formlabs and applied what I learned to designing a writing instrument in their visual brand language.

Solution

I designed a marker that has an interchangeable nibs and refillable ink cartridge system, all framed by aluminum and acrylic. This communicates Formlab's brand values of innovation, accessibility, integration, and precision.

Brief

"Design a writing instrument based on the visual brand language of a company."

I choose Formlabs, a 3D-printing manufacturer known for their innovative and thoughtfully designed SLA and SLS printers. Their unique design language presented an interesting challenge for developing a product as unrelated as a writing instrument.

Market Positioning

Using a 2x2 matrix, I identified how Formlabs differentiates itself from its competitors in the resin printer market in terms of visual design. I found that Formlabs positions its products as clean and industrial, like they belong in a scientific or medical setting. Since Formlabs's largest customer base is in the dental industry, it follows that Formlabs would adapt this type of visual brand language.

Signature Elements

Planar Construction

Rule of Thirds

Rounded Balance

Metal Cradle

Integrated Interaction

Visible Workings

Design Evaluation

Unbalanced Color

At most, two-thirds of Formlabs products were orange, but my design was more than two-thirds orange. Additionally, my design lacked that black plastic Formlabs used to frame their interactive surfaces, such as the control screen.

Ungainly Hinge

I wanted to the marker to be refillable, mimicking Formlabs's resin cartridge system. However, this resulted in a large hinge that disrupted Formlabs's planar design language. Thus, I needed to explore other avenues for a refillable system.

Metal Application

As shown in the signature elements, Formlabs products have aluminum sheets that cradle the other components. Instead of using metal to support the components in this way, I simply used it for color-blocking.

More Than a 3D-Print

Instead of simply 3D-printing every component, I cut and bent a sheet of aluminum to size and sandblasted it for a realistic finish. After painting the 3D-printed parts, I used an epoxy to glue the frame to the other components.

Final Design for Class

Revisiting the Project

Feedback from Formlabs

No Pyramid Shape

While discussing this project with a Formlabs industrial designer, they remarked that Formlabs does not use pyramid forms. However, my overall design had a trapezoidal form, which was not in line with the visual language.

Loud and Distracting

The designer also pointed out that Formlabs products are supposed to work quietly in the background. My design was more sculptural than practical and brought too much attention to itself.

Not User-Centered

In the quest for communicating visual language, I sacrificed the user-experience. By emulating the planar construction and metal frame, I created a marker that was awkward to use.

Formlabs Mark

Brief

Market Positioning

Brand Breakdown

Signature Elements

Planar Construction

Rule of Thirds

Rounded Balance

Metal Cradle

Integrated Interaction

Visible Workings

Concept Ideation

Concept Visualization

Design Evaluation

Unbalanced Color

Ungainly Hinge

Metal Application

Continued Ideation

More Than a 3D-Print

Final Design for Class

Revisiting the Project

Feedback from Formlabs

No Pyramid Shape

Loud and Distracting

Not User-Centered

Another Round of Ideation

Visualizing the Concepts

Refining the Details

Final Model and Features

Other Projects

Firm Grip QuickLock

Enucleator