A Perfect Match: How We Combined Our Skills and Passion to Start a 3D Printing Business

Our journey into the world of 3D printing started as a shared dream. As a couple with a passion for design, we decided to turn our skills and knowledge into a business. This post reflects our experience—from the initial spark of an idea to how we created a company that offers innovative design solutions for our community.

The Spark of Inspiration

Our love for design was the catalyst for this venture. We believed Product Design Engineering and Visual Design complemented each other quite well, combining the best of aesthetics and functionality. We worked for a long time with wood, glass, clay... and became really hyped about creating our own products. While working for some of our clients, we kept realising how much 3D printing would pose a simple solution to an otherwise complex problem, allowing us to offer rapid prototyping, test our ideas at home and, at the same time, be able to serve a wider community by simplifying our workflow and making design solutions accessible to everyone.

I still remember the excitement of our first print. We printed a model we had previously designed for a client, and seeing how fast we could have it in our hands, feel it and test it, was beyond amazing.

Learning the Basics

Diving into starting a 3D printing business meant a lot of learning. We read articles, joined communities and trained for countless hours, immersing ourselves in this new technology. The learning curve was steep, but our excitement pushed us to keep going.

We started with basic projects to practice different materials and methods. For example, we experimented with ABS, PLA and PETG filaments, each offering unique traits. With each print, we gained a better understanding of our printers' capabilities and the design process—a puzzle we were learning to solve piece by piece.

Combining Our Strengths

Being a couple allowed us to leverage our individual strengths effectively. While I focused on artistic design and branding, my partner took charge of the technical aspects, ensuring our creations looked good and worked well.

This collaboration was crucial in overcoming challenges. We faced moments of trial and error, but each setback was a lesson. For instance, we had initial difficulties with calibration that resulted in failed prints. However, those experiences taught us the importance of precision and patience in 3D printing, allowing us to be much more confident in our work down the road.

Building Our Brand

With our skills growing, the next step was establishing our brand. We wanted a space that reflected our passion and offered meaningful design solutions to our community.

Every detail mattered—our brand name had to resonate with our mission. 'Kokolab' is a combination of the Japanese word 'ここ' (koko), meaning "here", plus 'lab', to reflect our ultimate goal to travel as we work and bring our business with us, therefore having our lab always here. As we crafted our website, we focused on creating an inviting space for fellow enthusiasts, allowing space to keep building a portfolio as we move forward.

Community Engagement

Engaging with the community was essential for our growth. We reach out to similar businesses to openly collaborate and learn from each other, and partnered up with local artists and entrepreneurs to help each other grow.

Navigating Challenges

No entrepreneurial journey is without its hurdles. We faced moments of self-doubt, especially when it came to making our passion a sustainable business.

Whenever we felt uncertain, we revisited our initial vision. Our commitment to creating meaningful designs was a driving force. Notably, we saw positive feedback from clients who benefited from our pieces, motivating us to push forward in challenging times.

Embracing Growth

As we grew, we sought to stay current with advancements in 3D printing. For example, we invested time in eco-friendly materials, such as recycled PLA, which reduced our environmental impact. According to a recent study, 54% of consumers prefer sustainable brands, making it crucial for us to align our practices with our values.

Continuous learning allowed us to take on larger projects, such as collaborating on educational tools for local schools. Our goal became to merge our love of design with responsible practices.

Looking Ahead

Reflecting on our journey fills us with excitement. We have combined our skills into something special, and we have learned so much about ourselves and our community.

Looking forward, we have ambitious plans. We want to embark on bigger projects, team up with local artists, and expand our product offerings. This adventure is just beginning!

Final Thoughts

Starting our 3D printing company has been a fulfilling journey of growth, creativity, and community connection. Through our shared passion for design and 3D printing, we strive to create meaningful solutions that resonate with our community.

Each day brings new challenges, but we are eager to see where this journey leads us. If you share our passion for 3D printing or design, we invite you to join us. Let’s explore the endless possibilities together!

A card game designed by us, both content and packaging.