Written by Melanie Coan, photos by Nick Thomsen and courtesy of Melanie Coan
Initially, I was a 3D modeler and 3D printer technician for a Jewelry company called “The Touch.” I worked directly with the owner of the company. He gave me designs and specs for new pieces that he wanted to put into production.
Recently I have accepted a position at Formlabs. My title is Applications Engineer, focused on Jewelry Vertical. My work environment is very creative, collaborative, inviting, intellectually stimulating and honestly, fun. Everyone I have met has been friendly and happy to assist in any way they can. I already have a few side projects in the works with coworkers. Formlabs is very much the kind of place that, if you have an idea, you can find someone that will get excited about it and want to bring it into reality.
SCAD taught me a lot about discipline, motivating myself and going after what I want. I knew that I wanted to push the boundaries of what my options would be post-grad, so when I saw a position listed at Formlabs I decided to apply. I knew having a BFA, as opposed to an engineering degree, would come with challenges and learning curves. Regardless, I’m so glad I went for it. Since starting, I’ve already learned so much about equipment, programs and how various forms of 3D printing work, as well as different printing techniques.
I am proud of myself for taking a leap and going after what I wanted, knowing there would be challenges. It’s easy to get comfortable and convince yourself you are better off staying in your lane. But I knew that, to achieve the vision I have for myself, I needed to take a chance.
I want to push myself and learn as much as I possibly can. I’ve been looking into Formlabs for a couple of years now so the fact that I go into work there
I’m not going to lie, it’s exciting but also terrifying. It’s really nice to have time after work and on weekends to work on personal projects. But, on the flip side, it’s easy to push things off when you have free time. You have to be in charge of yourself, stay on top of your own deadlines and goals because no one is there to make sure you are remaining disciplined.
