Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is beginning to reshape lighting design and manufacturing. For designers, it allows the creation of highly complex, organic shapes for shades, diffusers, and fixtures that are impossible with traditional molding. It enables rapid prototyping and small-batch production runs, fostering greater design experimentation. For manufacturing, it promises potential for on-demand, localized production, reducing inventory and logistics costs. While currently used for high-end design pieces and prototypes, advances in printable materials that offer the right transparency, diffusion, and heat resistance could see 3D printing scale to more mainstream applications. This technology empowers a new wave of design-led innovation and could lead to more personalized, locally produced lighting objects.
3D Printing Illuminates: Custom Luminaire Design and Localized Production
