Found 3D

Finding 3D printing more
Efficient and make the models
come true Easier.

Role
UX Designer
Duration
8 weeks
Year
2022

About Found 3D

Found 3D quickly matches people who want to print 3D models with suppliers who meet the criteria, helping them save valuable time and increase efficiency at all stages.

Define

My Story

As an interior design student, 3D printing is the most convenient way for students to make physical models. However, at the end of the semester, there is a very long queue for the 3D printing service at the school. Not only do they spend a lot of time waiting for a response when communicating with the school director, they also spend a lot of time waiting for a response. It also takes a lot of time to print the model, and if there is a mistake in printing, you need to modify the file again, which consumes a lot of time. So I think the current 3D printing service is too inefficient.

Our Goal

How should I help these people with 3D printing needs as much as possible in finding a merchant, communicating with them and getting them the model as fast as possible? How can I save time and improve efficiency every step of the way?

Research

Problem space

Inefficient search

55% of respondents found it difficult to find a 3D printing supplier that met their needs.

Low level of professionalism

80% of people are not proficient in 3D printing modeling software. When they need to modify files, they spend more time.

Tight schedule

72.5% of respondents said they needed 3D printing to be able to be completed in three days.

Discover

User Interview
Conducted 6 interviews with different industry players about 3D printing

To better understand my target users, I interviewed six separate target users from different industries (design, engineering, and hobbies) to understand their needs for 3D printing, the difficulties they face, and how I can help.

Interview highlights
Why would a single 3D printing service be inefficient and take too much of people's time?
Weak software foundation

“School lab will verify that the file is correct, but if something goes wrong you will need to figure out how to fix it yourself.”

Tom Wang 23, Long Island City, New York
Language barrier

“I would like to use instant messaging text chat because my English is not very good and text is more efficient. Instant messaging can confirm everything faster. I find it too slow to use email.”

Jiabao Luo 23, Toronto, Canada
Expensive price

“School lab has 3D printing service, but it is more expensive and the model quality is higher.”

Eason 24, Long Island City, New York
Target Users
Through the survey I found that students and workers in architecture and industry and 3D printing modelers are my target users.
User Journey
Painpoints
Need to finish in
limited time
Inability to quickly
match suppliers
to meet demand
Low efficiency in
communication
with suppliers
Lack of
professional
support
Quadrant Chart

Design

Information architecture

Wireframe

Find A Supplier
Find answers on the Online Community
Find answers on the Online Community

Upload Your File to Estimate Time

Nowadays, users do not have an accurate prediction of the printed model. This results in many times the supplier not being able to print within the time frame specified by the user. To solve this problem, I set up a feature that allows users to upload a file to know the exact print time, so they know when to expect their model or adjust it in time to shorten the print time.

Quickly find a supplier who meet the requirements

After researching, users had a variety of printing needs, and the existing model took a lot of time to find a vendor that met the criteria. So I created multiple filtering options and prioritization for users to choose from, allowing them to quickly match vendors that meet their needs.

Share Your Experience and Ask Questions

I found that my target users were only using the software at a basic level and they needed a platform to find help, so I set up a forum where they could easily find answers and share their experiences.

Communicate With Suppliers and Check Order Progress

Users complain that suppliers are quick and slow to respond and expect suppliers to respond to their messages on time. And users want to see the printing progress of their models remotely to ensure that their models are printing without problems. So I set up instant messaging and real-time monitoring to make it more efficient and convenient for customers to contact the supplier and see the real-time status of their models.

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SKI