As 3D printing continues to penetrate the mainstream consciousness and personal data is heralded by some as Web 3.0, it'll be very interesting to watch the two converge more and more and see what that convergence produces. The vase above for example is a 3D vocal sound wave sculpture produced by the uniqueness of one persons voice. This vase and other products such as wall hangings based on your musical tastes and barcode inspired prints of your favourite movies pave the way for a not so distant future where people will come to expect all of their products and experiences to be personalised.
For the last few years we in advertising have been concentrating on personalising the brand experience online and offline by bringing a sense of uniqueness to a campaign through social media integration. Some forward thinking companies and brands such as Nike+, have realised that the product itself must also begin to offer this same sense of personalisation.
3d printing means that personal data previously restricted to digital or 2D form can now become a physical, tangible 3D object. This offers brands and advertisers an opportunity to use the consumers input allow them to form a bond with a brand right at the very beginning of the process instead of spending a lot of time, money and energy convincing them at the end. At the end of the day, you're more likely to buy or use a product you helped create.
