Design Creations is a jack of all trades and master of a few.
Don't want to say none, because we do have some nifty tricks up our sleeve.
I had a major life event recently that made me rethink Design Creations. Rather than trying to focus on a retail store model, I am going to begin gearing DC more toward tools, techniques, and coping mechanisms for people living with PTSD, mental handicaps, and other traumas.
I am a U.S. Army Veteran of the first Gulf War era, and due to some unfortunate events, I came away with some serious PTSD. It has been a struggle for the past 30 years, but thanks to my amazing and loving wife, Nicole, I was able to learn several techniques and methods while working with VA doctors to help cope with my episodes. Techniques like mindfulness, redirection, and focusing my anxiety and stress into positive outlets.
For me, those outlets have included technology, tinkering with PCs and software, 3D modeling, 3D printing, and most recently, painting those 3D prints.
Sharing these creative outlets online, whether through posts, videos, live streams, or other community spaces, allows me to share the experience and interact with other folks in a way that feels safer and more manageable. Of course, the internet is not perfect protection, but it can make it easier to step back, block, ignore, or disengage when needed.
It also lets me get feedback on my techniques, hear new ideas for things to print or create, and share my joys and "oopsies" with others. Hopefully, it helps spread the practice to people who are looking for a way to cope other than drinking, smoking, drugs, or even "noble" activities like putting yourself in harm's way protecting others as a first responder, or taking those serious missions while on active duty and just hoping the chips fall where they may.
Fortunately, when I was a first responder and firefighter, I had some amazing Chiefs and Lieutenants who guided me, watched out for me, and helped me more than they probably realized at the time. Thanks to Bill Gardner, Jim Karnes, Stuart Heater, Robert Hogue, Eddie Bailey, and if I did not mention you, I certainly have not forgotten you. There are just so many great folks in Leander.
I want to be able to share these coping mechanisms with other Veterans, non-Veterans, first responders, and anyone else who may be struggling. I would also like to be in a position where, if someone is struggling financially or just does not have the spare scratch because they, like most of us, are living check to check and taking care of families, I can send them a 3D model. It might be something fresh, an extra print, or even an oopsie print they can experiment with as they build up their own collection of tools, paints, and creative outlets. All for something as simple as the cost of postage.
In the coming weeks, as we move back home to Leander and get settled into our new place, we will be getting our tools and goodies situated again. We are still not completely sure what form Design Creations will take in the near future, but we do know this: we want it to become something more meaningful, more helpful, and more focused on sharing creativity as a way to cope, heal, and connect.
Thank you all for being part of that journey.
I started in 3D design back in 2003/2004 with GMax and Flight Simulator 2004. After MANY months of frustration, trial and error I finally got the hang of the program and began creating simple objects. I moved on to AutoDesk 3DS Max with its more advanced feature set and just continued from there.
While being bored and playing around with Nikki's PS4, I wandered on to Twitch. I always heard about it but had never been to the site. My first follow was of a fellow in the UK who was building and painting model tanks. Right on, I could get into watching that. My next follow was of another mini-painter who was sooo entertaining and willing to share tips and tricks that finally got me into the hobby too!
In 2020, the year of "covid", we had a windfall come our way and we dusted off Design Creations, converted our garage into a Workshop/Den, bought some tools, a GlowForge, a 3D Printer and a small CNC machine and just went to town!
I was introduced to my first computer in the beginning of the 80's, a honking big and "powerfull" IBM 8086. On this beast I toiled away the hours playing a text based space game called "Starfleet 1: The War Begins." Yes it was a cheesy play on Star Trek, was mostly Text Based with some ASCII characters arranged to create some simple "graphical" components. Hey, I was young, impressionable and it was a computer!!!!
For an indepth look at our past, present and future designs
Wander on over to the DC Gallery
Design Creations
Leander, Texas
