CNBC Has Logo 3D Printed by Shapeways’ Designer Ryan Kittleson

Designer Ryan Kittleson

3D printing seems to be making the news quite often as of late. Whether it is because of medical breakthroughs that the technology has allowed for, or the printing objects that we wouldn’t have ever thought would be possible just a few years ago, it is certainly garnering the attention of the global media. If 3D printing is to go mainstream, it will be the media that helps it do so. Through interesting stories which are broadcast around the globe, the media will be the ones to popularize or completely shun the technology.

In the United States, television news media is almost synonymous with CNBC. CNBC, which is currently owned by NBCUniversal News Group, has a reach of around 400 million viewers around the world, when you include its sister networks. Based in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, the station is available to over 100 million households in the United States alone. So, if CNBC has something to say, the world is listening, and the world is taking note.

Just recently, in May of this year, representatives from CNBC contacted Shapeways in order to have a 3D printed logo created. What they got was quite a work of art.

“NBC wanted to do a story on 3D printing and get a 3D printed logo for themselves to use as a prop,” Designer of the logo, Ryan Kittleson tells 3DPrint.com. “They reached out to Shapeways and since Shapeways doesn’t do any designing, they contacted me about making it. I used Photoshop to take their 2D logo and extract 3D shapes. Then I used Zbrush to clean up and adjust some things as well as hollow it out for cheaper printing.”

The logo, which is printed as one single piece, aired on CNBC’s Squawk Alley, with Shapeways’ CEO Peter Weijmarshausen, who explained the process of how it was created. The video, which can be seen below, certainly showed hundreds of thousands of people watching in the United States just what the technology of 3D printing can do.

Kittleson tells 3DPrint.com that he has been doing 3D modeling since the late 1990s, and using 3D printing technology since 2004.

“I’m a fulltime designer and sculptor for 3D printing,” Kittleson explained. “I like to do toys, caricatures, jewelry and fine-art. To pay the bills I work with artists and businesses to help them realize their dreams one layer at a time.”

Some of Kittleson’s other projects, which are available on his Shapeways shop, include comical memes, such as doge, intricately detailed jewelry, and even a “mini-me” of LA news anchor Chris Schauble, depicting him in a state of shock during a recent earthquake that was televised live on TV.

LA news anchor Chris Schauble & his “mini-me”

Kittleson will be on hand, showing off some of his work that he has created, at the upcoming 3D Print Design Show this coming April in New York City. The show, which is part of the larger 3D Print Week NY, should be quite exciting, with exhibitors coming from around the world to showcase their 3D printed designs. Best of all, it’s free of charge for both exhibitors and attendees.

“I’ll be showing my original designs as well as some items that I have done for clients,” says Kittleson. “A lot of what you can see on my Shapeways shop will be there.”

What do you think about this logo that Kittleson designed and Shapeways 3D printed? Discuss in the 3D Printed CNBC Logo forum thread on 3DPB.com.