Metsidian Wall Shelf Made in Obsidian with Copper Finish on Top

Finnish conceptual artist and designer Janne Kyttanen is known for inventing 3DTI, a technology capable of customizing almost any 3D-printed project. He has been a leader in 3D printing innovation since the 1990s, helping to revolutionize the way designers and artists approach manufacturing and design in the 21st century.

Kyttanen began his studies in 1996 at the Elisava School of Design in Barcelona before moving to Amsterdam to graduate at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie. After an introduction to 3D printing, Kyttanen began considering the world through wireframes and skeletal web-like structures. Kyttanen turned what he called a “bogus business plan” into an expert 3D printing design company called Freedom of Creation. Kyttanen later sold his company to 3D Systems. He remained as creative director from 2011 to 2016.

Whether fashion, fixtures or ping-pong tables, Kyttanen is responsible for several firsts in the world of 3D printing. In 2000, he created one of the world's first 3D-printed dresses and was the first to commercialize 3D-printed products on a large scale, including lights, shoes, phone cases and furniture. One large lighting fixture reportedly took him around six months to create.

Hyundai, Asics, Nivea, Nike, Phillips and L’Oreal were among the early adopters of Kyttanen’s technology, which led to multiple award-winning collaborations with numerous brands. The Cube, a consumer-level 3D printer, earned Kyttanen the American Technology Award as well as the Good Design Award in 2013. He created the first 3D-printed objects acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His work is now in the permanent collections of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology Museum and Museum of Arts and Design, as well as Germany’s Vitra Design Museum.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Janne Kyttanen tables, decorative objects, seating and more.