?魏瑪肖森指出,，3D打印技術(shù)發(fā)展道路上的幾個(gè)重要的“攔路虎”已經(jīng)清除了。3D打印機(jī)一度是“極為昂貴”的設(shè)備,，而且需要高度專門化的軟件,，而現(xiàn)在它們變得更便宜，也更容易上手了,。下一步則是3D打印技術(shù)的相關(guān)性了,，而這種相關(guān)性要“來自人們關(guān)心的偉大故事”。（畢竟一個(gè)20邊形的骰子就算再漂亮,、再新穎,，從實(shí)用性上看，它也不過就是一個(gè)20邊形的骰子而已,。）

????隨著公司的成長(zhǎng),，Shapeways公司必須要克服卡米所說的“空白頁”的問題——雖然顧客們說他們最喜歡獨(dú)特的東西了，但這并不意味著他們會(huì)花很多時(shí)間或精力去獲得它們,。而且有些鼓勵(lì)個(gè)性化的產(chǎn)品（比如去年摩托羅拉的Moto X智能手機(jī)）也未必總能獲得成功,，哪怕市面上可選的產(chǎn)品并不多。

????為了解決這個(gè)問題,，Shapeways公司已經(jīng)推出了幾款網(wǎng)絡(luò)應(yīng)用來刺激人們的創(chuàng)意,。其中有一款應(yīng)用可以把設(shè)計(jì)草圖變成3D模型,，還有一款應(yīng)用可以幫助用戶DIY一個(gè)戒指或一套酒具，更厲害的設(shè)計(jì)師還可以用它設(shè)計(jì)一個(gè)工具箱等等,。Shapeways公司還與Adobe公司達(dá)成了一項(xiàng)合作,，用戶可以直接向Shapeways公司上傳Photoshop設(shè)計(jì)圖。

????魏瑪肖森說：“現(xiàn)在大家都比所謂的‘大品牌’更有創(chuàng)意,。以后再也不需要迎合大眾口味的千篇一律的設(shè)計(jì)了,。”

????這是一個(gè)很好的目標(biāo),，但是在現(xiàn)實(shí)中很難實(shí)現(xiàn),。設(shè)計(jì)師柯斯蒂卡?斯帕合在Shapeways上銷售產(chǎn)品已經(jīng)好幾年了，他設(shè)計(jì)了一套超現(xiàn)實(shí)主義的咖啡杯,，還與人共同設(shè)計(jì)了一種“仿生鞋”,，外型的靈感來自于鳥的頭骨。但是他在Shapeways上賣得最好的產(chǎn)品當(dāng)屬一款非?！坝袣狻钡氖诚伀F小雕像,，這個(gè)小雕像在網(wǎng)上很火。他說：“由于它已經(jīng)很火了,，所以很多人都知道它,。”

????他還補(bǔ)充說：“我不是坐在家里自己想該制作些什么,，而是到Reddit網(wǎng)站上,，問人們想要什么?！边@樣他制造出了很多匪夷所思的創(chuàng)新產(chǎn)品,，比如一個(gè)可以?shī)A在桌角上的小投石機(jī)?！昂芑奶?，但這就是他們想要的東西?！?/p>

????斯帕合停頓了一下說：“我也想制造一些漂亮,、性感的產(chǎn)品賣,，比如杯子和鞋,，但是它們就是賣不動(dòng)?！保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng)）

????譯者：樸成奎

Weijmarshausen says that the technology has already cleared several barriers to adoption. 3-D printers were once "horrendously expensive" and required highly specialized software; they are more accessible now. The next step is relevance, he says, which "comes from great stories that people care about." (Because while a 20-sided die may be inventive, it's still as practical as, well, a 20-sided die.)

As it grows, Shapeways has to conquer what Carmy calls the "blank page" problem: Just because customers say they want unique things most doesn't mean they will devote much time or effort to acquire them. And products that encourage personalization, like last year's Moto X smartphone, don't always succeed even when the options are far more limited.

To address this, Shapeways has introduced several web apps to facilitate creativity. With one program, users can turn a drawing into a 3-D bauble. Shapeways has also released apps to let users customize a ring or sake set, as well as a toolbox for more sophisticated designers. Shapeways also announced a partnership with Adobe that lets users upload and manufacture Photoshop creations.

"Everyone is more creative than what we call 'big brands' today," Weijmarshausen says. "No more lowest common denominator."

It's a fine goal, but difficult to achieve in practice. Kostika Spaho, a designer who has sold products on Shapeways for several years, has designed a line of otherworldly coffee cups and co-designed a "biomimicry shoe" inspired by the shape of a bird's skull. But his best-selling products on Shapeways are based on Internet memes. His No. 1 product, he says, is this obstreporous anteater, "Due to the fact that it's already popular and a lot of people know of it."

"Instead of thinking of what products I should make, I go to Reddit and ask people what they want," he says. This has led to such innovations as a desktop catapult that clamps to the corner of the desk. "It's so ridiculous, but this is what they want."

Spaho pauses. "I would like to make sexy, beautiful products like the cups and the shoes," he says. "But they don't sell."