By now, you should be fairly familiar with the name Melissa Ng, especially if you’re into cosplay and other 3D printed creative works of art. If you’re not, I highly suggest you check out what she’s been up to. The self-taught 3D artist and designer is making a big name for herself, especially since designing a full-sized 3D printed suit of fantasy armor for actress Felicia Day. If you visit her blog Lumecluster, you can see (and purchase!) her designs: gorgeous pieces of jewelry and armor, 3D printed masks, and most recently these Health Potion Pendants, which were created and sold to help raise medical funds for her friend’s father, who had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. Now she’s designed the Mana Potion Pendant, to help another friend who’s suffering from a debilitating disease.
Ng’s good friend, jazz pianist Elaine Hyojin Kim, was diagnosed with stage three cancer in May. Multiple myeloma is a rare cancer, formed by malignant plasma cells found in the bone marrow. Ng explains that the mana potion in a fantasy game is different than a health potion, which restores an in-game character’s health. The mana potion boosts the character’s energy and power, which is what her friend needs after intensive chemotherapy, stem cell harvesting and transplants have sapped her of strength, and sadly the ability to play the piano. She says that Kim’s power, love, and source of joy is music.
“As some of you may know, Elaine is both a beloved friend and cherished member of the PianoVerse family (another company I co-own) and community. For me and countless others, Elaine was like a bard who was always uplifting everyone around her with her music,” Ng explains on her Lumecluster blog. “It’s wonderful that she’s getting the medical attention she needs here in New York, but medical costs and surviving in NYC is ridiculously difficult and expensive. With this kind of heavy weight on her shoulders, reclaiming her music and her life is only becoming an increasingly strenuous challenge.”
Ng, who’s been featured on sites like Forbes, TED Blog, Geek & Sundry, and Tech Insider, also says that she’s been working hard on perfecting her latest mask and gauntlet designs, so keep an eye on her blog. Discuss in the 3D Printed Pendant forum at 3DPB.com.