This article originates from Women In 3D Printing and is part of our effort to support the use of 3D printing technology by women. The article is re-published with permission.
Xiomara Lorenzo is a designer and artist who loves to do beautiful and meaningful work. Her take on the meaning of life as well as on personal growth serves as the inspiration for her line. She uses 3D printing to bring her models to life. Best of all, the pieces are so light that they do not hurt or stretch your earlobes!
WI3DP: Xiomara, could you let us know about your background and what brought you to 3D printing?
I am a jewelry designer based in Boston, MA. I have been designing and making jewelry for over 10 years. I discovered my passion for jewelry design while in college.
When I started designing jewelry, I was drawn to the hoop earring shape. I re-imagined it using continuous, intersecting lines.
I created a design whereby one could not tell where the lines began or ended. I pursued this design initially through craft wire. While taking weekend classes at the Jewelry Arts Institute in New York City in 2012, I refined the design, eventually learning how to solder metals. I recreated the continuous loop effect by layering the metals, soldering or fusing as I went.
The essence of continuous movement was embraced during the integration of 3D printing into my process.
WI3DP: What was your very first experience with 3D Printing?
Spring 2014. I had initially planned to prototype my earrings in the nylon acrylic version and produce cast models. However, when I received the prints, I was completely drawn in by the durability, the color, and the lightweight feel.
WI3DP: What inspires you to create?
I focus on continuity as a key theme because of my belief in continuous personal growth. I bring this capacity into my designs, encouraging the viewer to lose themselves momentarily as they trace the intersecting lines of the piece, attempting to find the where the lines start and end. By stepping back from the design, emerges a willingness to embrace these lines as a constant and continuous, as personal growth should be.
WI3DP: Why using 3D printing for your creations?
I chose 3D printing because I wanted to give wearers pieces that are distinctive, that can be easily enveloped within one’s personal style, and that are comfortable and lightweight. Often larger earrings pull on one’s lobes. 3D printing allows wearers to enjoy these eye-catching pieces without worry. The best feedback I receive is “Wow! There are so light!”
WI3DP: What do you think of the 3D Printing industry today? And how would you like to see it evolve in the future?
I launched my 3D jewelry design business in order to capitalize on the trend of additive manufacturing. Broadly speaking, I want to expand consumer knowledge and awareness of 3D printing and its applications. The challenge within the industry is that while buzz around 3D printing has been growing over the past few years, decades even, broad-base consumer knowledge of its applications is still nascent and industry leaders are struggling to grow awareness and use of 3D printing services and hardware. Finally, there is a lack of 3D printed products that have been edited and polished with the end-user in mind. With Xiomara Lorenzo Designs, I am changing this.
WI3DP: In your opinion, how could we encourage more women to become involved with 3D Printing?
3D printing is an excellent medium for entrepreneurship. I encourage women especially to check out the opportunities to transform their 2D designs into 3D models using Sculpteo’s platform. In addition, I advocate educating on 3D printing opportunities in school so that younger generations are exposed.
If you are interested in learning more about Xiomara and her work, we invite you to visit her shop here!
And don’t forget to join the Women in 3D Printing group on LinkedIn and
California-based Nora Toure is the woman behind “Women in 3D Printing”, a group dedicated to promoting and showcasing the use of 3D printing for women. She’s also a Sales Manager at 3D print -on-demand service Sculpteo.
