My Thoughts on the New Campaign Feature on MakerWorld

I really appreciate how the new campaign tool on MakerWorld has been built - it’s incredibly well-programmed, and the communication with the MakerWorld team throughout the process has been excellent. They’ve been supportive and responsive every step of the way, and I felt truly encouraged while preparing my campaign.

The idea of a curated campaign feature is something I personally value a lot. By having the MakerWorld team select and support campaigns, it ensures a certain level of quality and care in the models being offered. At the same time, it gives creators like me the opportunity to invest more time, energy, and resources into complex, high-quality designs that would not be feasible to develop without the support of a fundraiser.

I’ve seen some critical takes on this new feature, so I’d like to respond to a few common points:

Thesis: Fundraisers should only be for physical products that still require upfront investment.
Answer: In my case, I’m investing both time and materials. Time is a limited resource for me due to my main job, and developing this project takes hundreds of hours of modeling, testing, refining, and documentation. In addition, running three printers nonstop for weeks means a significant cost in filament and electricity. The system I’m designing isn’t finished yet, and I expect to spend another 100 hours completing models, polishing them and writing good instructions.

Thesis: Fundraisers are just a marketing trick.
Answer: Personally, I’m really thankful for the visibility this campaign gives me on MakerWorld. On platforms like Instagram or TikTok, reaching people has become increasingly difficult unless you pay for promotion. Here, it feels like reach is based on substance again - on ideas and designs worth supporting.

Thesis: 3D models should always be free - open source is the foundation of the 3D printing community.
Answer: I fully support the open source idea. In fact, all my other models are available for free and not locked behind paywalls, unlike many on other platforms. But just like in voluntary work, if the  the people who put serious effort into their work are not supported financially, it becomes harder and harder to justify the time investment. We all live in a world where we need income to sustain ourselves. MakerWorld’s campaign tool makes it possible for me - and for many other designers - to create something ambitious, detailed, and well-crafted. This is one of the reasons why, in my opinion, MakerWorld already stands out as the platform with the highest-quality 3D models.

I’m excited to see where this feature goes and grateful to be part of it. Now you can read about my project in detail if you want to ;)

Moduluma – A Modular Lighting System

Moduluma is a versatile, nature inspired lighting ecosystem built around a collection of interchangeable components. 

In total there are 560 different combinations that are possible within this ecosystem!

The system includes (not all versions in the pictures yet):

6 sculptural vases, two of which feature interchangeable inlays for added variation

5 distinct inlay styles: 4 3D-printable versions and 1 suitable for laser cutting

4 fixture options that support E14, E26, E27 bulbs and the Bambu Lab LED kit (not visualized)

4 unique lampshades, two of which are modular and can be combined with various leaf elements

4 nature-inspired leaf designs for different organic aesthetics

Designed to grow, the ecosystem will be expanded with retrofit versions of previous lamp models, allowing existing designs - like the Florahedron - to integrate seamlessly with the modular structure.

Moduluma is not just a collection of lamps - it’s a creative system that invites personalization, experimentation, and a fresh approach to decorative lighting.

Stretch Goals:

1000$: A extra set of inlays plus one new vase!

1500$: Two extra types of leafs!

2000$: A extra lampshade compatible with all leafs and vases!

(The Stretch Goals will be released to every backer!)

What needs to be done:

The project is already well underway: multiple designs are tested, and all components are printable on all Bambu Lab printers. As there are so many different variations (for example 4 different versions of fixture for each vase) I still need to finish at least 20 parts. I also need some more time to perfect the tolerances for ideal fit every time. With your support, I’ll complete the full ecosystem, adapt older lamp models as compatible addons, and provide detailed guides on how to print and build them!