GBO x ColorFabb: Revolutionizing Product Design with 3D Printing Filaments
Design agency GBO from Helmond (The Netherlands) and colorFabb have worked together on an exciting design project.
The challenge was to 'hack' a simple IKEA design by means of adding 3D printed parts. IKEA hacks and 3D printing go hand in hand and are a popular creative outlet.
Nanne and Rick (interns at GBO) have chosen to use a simple IKEA 'MARIUS' stool and transform this into a true piece of design art. Printed with Vibers Pastel Green, woodFill and PLA Economy Light Gray.
Scroll down to read all about Nanne and Rick's experiences!
GBO is an acclaimed product design and engineering company specializing in creating innovative solutions across various industries. Known for its holistic approach to product development—from initial concept to final production—GBO continually seeks ways to improve the quality, functionality, and efficiency of its designs. In their pursuit of cutting-edge technologies, GBO has found an invaluable partner in ColorFabb, a leading provider of high-quality 3D printing filaments. This collaboration has enabled GBO to transform its design and prototyping processes, delivering faster and more flexible solutions for clients.
This post explores the GBO x ColorFabb partnership, shedding light on how GBO leverages ColorFabb’s range of advanced filaments to innovate in product design, reduce lead times, and bring high-performance prototypes and functional parts to life.
The GBO Approach to Product Design
GBO’s success is rooted in a commitment to excellence in product design and engineering. Their team of designers, engineers, and material experts work collaboratively to turn concepts into reality. By combining creativity with technical expertise, GBO has developed solutions for various sectors, including consumer electronics, medical devices, industrial equipment, and more.
One of GBO’s primary goals is to streamline the design process while maintaining high standards of quality and functionality. 3D printing plays a significant role in this strategy, allowing GBO to prototype rapidly, test designs, and iterate efficiently. However, to achieve the best results, they require reliable, high-performance materials that can keep up with the demands of modern product development.
This need for quality materials led GBO to collaborate with ColorFabb, a filament producer known for its diverse range of high-performance 3D printing filaments. With ColorFabb’s specialized materials, GBO can print parts that closely mimic final production materials, enabling better testing and validation before moving to mass production.
Why GBO Chose ColorFabb Filaments
When selecting a filament partner, GBO sought a company that offered both versatility and performance in its material lineup. ColorFabb was an ideal match, providing a wide array of filaments tailored to different applications—from durable and lightweight options to filaments with enhanced flexibility, impact resistance, and even metal-like aesthetics.
Key Reasons for Choosing ColorFabb
- Material Quality and Consistency: ColorFabb’s reputation for quality made them an easy choice for GBO. Each filament is engineered for precise extrusion, consistent quality, and excellent layer adhesion, ensuring reliable results for demanding prototypes.
- Broad Range of Materials: GBO needed access to a variety of materials to meet different design needs, from flexible TPU for ergonomic components to carbon fiber-infused filaments for structural parts. ColorFabb’s extensive portfolio offered the versatility GBO was looking for.
- Functional Properties: Many ColorFabb filaments are designed with functional properties, such as UV resistance, heat resistance, and low warping, making them suitable for a variety of end-use applications.
- Support for Complex Prototyping: With ColorFabb’s specialized materials, GBO can print prototypes that simulate the mechanical and aesthetic characteristics of final products. This accelerates the testing phase and provides clients with a more realistic preview of the end product.
Vibers Pastel Green
"The grainy texture of the material gives a natural look to every print. To emphasize this even further, I let myself be inspired by the tea plantation fields in Asia for the design of my seat."
by Nanne
“During my internship I was given the opportunity to learn more about 3D printing. Rick and I were presented with the project to, in cooperation with colorFabb, design a new seat for a standard IKEA stool. In order to prepare for this collaboration we visited colorFabb to observe their method of working. It was an informative experience, to see all that is possible with 3D printing and the application of various materials.
I took a lot of inspiration for the final design from the material ‘Vibers’ itself. The grainy texture of the material gives a natural look to every print. To emphasize this even further, I let myself be inspired by the tea plantation fields in Asia for the design of my seat. The lines, that seem to flow through the middle of the seat in a foreign manner, make for an interesting effect.” - Nanne (GBO)
"Through our collaboration with the Dutch company Vibers we’ve been able to formulate the filament in such a way that it reduces its carbon footprint with a third compared to regular PLA. This filament comes on a cardboard spool made from recycled cardboard to further minimize the use of single use plastic."
- colorFabb
woodFill and PLA Economy Light Gray
"It creates the illusion that the upper part is floating."
by Rick
“Working on this project with colorFabb was a special experience. It was very impressive to see what print techniques and equipment colorFabb has available, as well as their extensive material portfolio. It provided me with educational input for the design of my stool.
The stool is designed to form a connection between two parts through an open structure. It creates the illusion that the upper part is floating. The open structures make for an interesting see through top, where you can see the connecting points from above. With pride I look back on the results of this project.”- Rick (GBO)
