Beyond Plastic Filament: An Exploration of 3D Printing as a Part of Creative Practices

The current push towards integrating new digital fabrication techniques into all parts of daily life has raised concerns about the changing role of the craftsperson in creative making. The goal of this dissertation is to gain insight into how new technologies can be incorporated into creative practices in a way that effectively supports the goals and workflows of practitioners. To do so, I explore three different cases in which 3D printing, a tool by which complex 3D objects are fabricated from digital designs, is used in tandem with traditional creative practices. Each project focuses on a different way to incorporate 3D printed objects, whether it be as a visualization for artists’ processes, a substitute medium for finished artworks, or as a step toward a larger fabrication workflow. Through this research, I discover how the integration of 3D printing affects creative processes, explore how these changes influence how and why practitioners engage in artistic practices, and gain insight into directions for future technological innovations.