Pugtato is the endearing creation of UK illustrator Sophie Corrigan, whose assortment of hybrid and anthropomorphic creatures, including her clever pun-imals, populate her website. One day, Eric Ho, social media specialist, digital marketing guru, and shop owner at Shapeways, was scouring Twitter for a design on which to base a new 3D printed cute figurine when he happened upon Corrigan’s Pugtato. He was immediately drawn to the adorable hybrid creature and wondered if Corrigan would be interested in collaborating.
Ho got in touch with Sophie and explained who he was, what Shapeways was, and why he was contacting her. He was surprised at just how easy it was to contact her and how open she was to discussing some kind of arrangement. He recalled the conversations that were the beginning of yet another great partnership:
“We discussed terms and conditions and agreed upon a licensing payment structure for the partnership. Once the licensing agreement was finalized and signed between both parties, I had the green light to make Pugtato into a 3D printed figurine.”
“What that written agreement needs to include can vary (and it can be helpful to talk to a lawyer about specific cases you have in mind, especially in an area as new as licenses for 3D printing),” Ho explained.
According to Eric Ho, the collaboration has already been quite a success. Pugtato, he said, “has already proven to be a favorable seller” not only on Shapeways, but also on other sites like Etsy and DesignByHumans. The diminutive pug-spud really is terribly endearing, as are most all of Sophie Corrigan’s peculiar and often funny hybrid creatures.
What are your thoughts on this rather odd 3D print? Let us know in the 3D Printed Pugtato forum thread on 3DPB.com.As for Pugtato, it even has its own music video. Check it out: