Overview

3D Hub bridges the gap between passionate 3D printing creators and a community that celebrates making.
Inspired by niche forums and maker movements, I set out to design a mobile-first experience that encourages sharing, discovery, and interaction—bringing enthusiasts together through content-driven UI.
The project aimed to integrate social features, topic filters, and visual-first cards into a cohesive mobile app with an intuitive structure and welcoming aesthetic.

The Problem

Despite the growing 3D printing community, there was no dedicated platform for enthusiasts to share, connect, and collaborate meaningfully.

Scattered and Impersonal 3D Communities
3D printing communities are fragmented across generic forums, social media groups, and niche websites. Creators struggle to find a focused space where inspiration, feedback, and shared learning truly thrive.

Poor Content discovery
Users waste time sifting through unrelated content to find relevant print models, tutorials, or material reviews.filters.

Lack of Recognition and Motivation
Makers rarely receive meaningful feedback or exposure unless they already have an audience, which reduces community-driven motivation.

The Solution

Think Instagram, but built for makers. A creative space to share, explore, and discuss everything 3D printing.

Introducing 3D Hub: A Maker’s Social World
A visually rich mobile platform designed specifically for 3D printing enthusiasts to share, learn, and grow together.

Targeted Discovery with Filament & Feature Filters
Search by topics like “ABS prints,” “print failures,” or “support settings” to find valuable, specific content and discussions.

Social-First Engagement
Users can like, comment, join discussions, follow creators, and even get featured in the Spotlight section driving motivation and rewarding creativity.

Research Process

Objective
Understand motivations, pain points, and usage behaviors of different users within the 3D printing community—from hobbyists to experienced creators.

Methodology
User Interviews: Conducted 5 semi-structured interviews with hobbyists, prosumers, and educators in the 3D printing space.
Think-Aloud Usability Test: Participants completed tasks on the wireframes while verbalizing their thoughts.
Task Scenarios: Focused on actions like uploading a model, browsing feeds, joining discussions, and searching for filaments.
Post-task Survey + Debrief Interview: Captured feedback on layout, usability, and feature relevance.

Tasks
Create a new project
Share a 3D model
Join a discussion
Search for filament tips
Follow a favorite creator

Data Collection

• Transcribed think-aloud commentary

• Notes from real-time observation

• Interview insights grouped by usability themes

Personas

• Conducted 3 qualitative interviews

• Participants varied by experience level: beginner, intermediate, and enthusiast

• Focus: sharing behavior, platform preferences, and desired features in a dedicated 3D printing social app

Key Insights

• Simplify Upload Flow: Users got confused by having both “upload” and “share” buttons → consolidated to one “+” CTA.

• Navigation Needs Clarity: Explore tab felt crowded — added segmented sub-tabs for Trending, Discussions, and Spotlight.

• Visual Feedback Wins: Adding mini image previews in the Notifications tab helped users quickly recognize post activity.

• Search Must Stay Global: Users valued a persistent search bar across all community views.

Design Process

Ideation and Wireframing
Started with low-fidelity wireframes to explore key flows—model sharing, discussion browsing, and notification handling—guided by user interview insights and competitive analysis.

Visual Language
Adopted a soft Neumorphism UI style to mirror the tactile nature of 3D prints, paired with Comfortaa typeface and a fresh mint palette for clarity and creativity.

Iteration and Feedback
User testing highlighted confusion around navigation and post interactions—led to refined sub-tabs, a global search bar, and simplified sharing via a unified "+" action button.

Prototypes

A polished, community-first mobile experience tailored to the needs of modern 3D printing enthusiasts.