From Selling Products to Solving Problems: studio mg²’s Journey Into Custom 3D Design

From intricate fashion pieces and customized home decor to experimental branding tools and merchandise, 3D printing is revolutionizing how creative professionals innovate. This technology offers incredible flexibility, making it possible to prototype, design and produce final products tailored to specific needs. Tapping into that potential, Zurich-based husband-and-wife duo Marina and Marvin Gutzwiller launched studio mg². With Marina leading creative direction and Marvin leading the technical side, the couple is exploring a broad spectrum of what additive manufacturing can offer. Find out what inspires them and why they are shifting their focus to partnerships and creative consulting in our exclusive interview below.

3DN: Could you introduce yourselves and your connections to design and 3D printing?

We are Marina and Marvin Gutzwiller, the founders of studio mg², located in Zurich, Switzerland. Together, we bring a unique combination of artistic vision and technical expertise to the world of 3D printing, with a focus on the intersection of design, fashion, interiors and visual merchandising. Marina has a background in branding and design management, with expertise in fashion and retail. As the creative lead, she focuses on conceptual design and the overall creative direction of our projects. Marvin, a mechanical engineer and industrial designer, specializes in CAD and 3D printing technology. He ensures that our creations are not only visually stunning but also highly functional and, most importantly, 3D printable.

studio mg² Founders Marina and Marvin

Our connection to design is driven by a passion for pushing boundaries, solving problems in a functional, sustainable and cost-effective way. 3D printing naturally became a key part of our process as it provides the precision, flexibility and creative freedom we need to bring our ideas to life and challenge traditional production methods.

3DN: What is the mission of studio mg²? How did it come about?

Our design studio was born from our shared passion for innovative design and the realization that 3D printing could do so much more than just prototype. It could create unique, tailor-made pieces that address our clients’ specific needs. Initially, we focused on designing and 3D printing functional yet aesthetic home decor objects like vases, lamps, and small furniture. While we loved the design process, we quickly realized that bulk production wasn’t our true passion. We made money from selling our products, but not enough to justify the time and effort involved. The real value came from the custom designs we were creating for peers and local businesses. We found ourselves thriving in this space, but we also discovered that many of our clients were unaware of how 3D printing could be used to create functional, unique and beautifully crafted objects that solve design challenges in unexpected ways.

This led us to focus on what we love most: problem-solving, ideating, and creating unique design solutions. And that’s when the idea of studio mg² was born in spring 2025. Now, we’re focused on what excites us at the intersection of our skills: creative consulting and custom 3D-printed solutions for brands and designers who want to explore the limitless potential of 3D printing and incorporate it into their own projects.

Our mission is simple: to bridge the gap between creative design and cutting-edge technology, offering bespoke, 3D-printed solutions for brands, agencies and the creative industries. Custom projects, collaborating with other creatives and businesses, is where we find the most inspiration and drive.

Vases and home decor items 3D printed by studio mg²

3DN: Could you explain how the process works for your projects? What is it like working together as a team?

Our process is highly collaborative and begins with understanding our client’s needs, followed by brainstorming sessions where we generate ideas, concepts and sketches. From there, we move into 3D modeling, testing prototypes, and refining designs before final production.

As a team, our dynamic is seamless. We complement each other’s strengths, with Marvin handling the technical side, ensuring everything is 3D-printable and functional, while Marina leads the creative direction, guiding the vision and aesthetic. It’s a perfect balance. We thrive working together on exciting projects, all while balancing our couple and family life. In many ways, our work feels like a shared passion project, something we truly enjoy doing together.

3DN: What kinds of 3D technologies do you use, and why?

We primarily work with FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing technology, leveraging a variety of high-performance materials, including PLA, PETG and TPU. Our setup features four high-quality 3D printers, each chosen for its unique capabilities to tackle different design challenges. With a maximum print volume of 80 × 80 × 100 cm in a single piece, we can produce large-scale designs, and for even bigger projects, we achieve seamless results by printing in modular sections.

3D printed lace fabricated by the Original Prusa XL machine

3DN: Could you tell us about any projects studio mg² is working on?

As a relatively new design studio, we’re lucky to be working on some truly exciting projects. One of them involves exploring the intersection of fit, fabric and design by integrating 3D printed applications into lingerie and swimwear collections. We’re also busy creating custom, brand-aligned displays for trade shows.

Alongside these projects, we’re actively expanding our portfolio to showcase the full potential of 3D printing, particularly within retail environments. We’re focused on demonstrating how 3D printing can elevate visual merchandising and transform traditional display concepts. There are also a few collaborative ventures on the horizon with fashion designers and brands who want to experiment with 3D printing in their collections. We’re excited to see where these projects take us.

3D printed fabric can take on unique, fluid geometries

3DN: As a new studio, do you have any dream projects or collaborations?

We definitely dream big! Our dream collaborations involve brands and designers in the fashion and interior design, as well as retail sectors. We’re also eager to work with creative agencies looking to integrate 3D-printed solutions into their projects, bringing a whole new level of innovation and impact to their clients’ experiences.

A dream project for us would be partnering with a retail brand and their visual merchandising team to design large-scale, fully 3D-printed installations for high-profile commercial spaces or striking store window displays.

3DN: Any last words for our readers?

3D printing is not just “nerdy technology,” it’s about creativity and innovation. It allows us to rethink traditional processes, experiment with new materials and solve design challenges in once impossible ways. As the technology evolves, so will the possibilities, especially in the creative industries.

3D printing has become more accessible in recent years, yet we believe the potential of this technology goes far beyond printing basic objects from inexpensive PLA. For those truly passionate about its potential, we hope you embrace the process of rethinking designs, pushing boundaries, letting your creativity flow and exploring the endless opportunities 3D printing offers.

We’re always excited to connect with anyone interested in our work or to collaborate with fellow professionals from the field for an exchange of ideas. To learn more about studio mg², click HERE.

3D printed bag designed by studio mg²

What do you think of studio mg²’s mission? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn or Facebook pages! Plus, don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter to get the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox. You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.

*All Photo Credits: studio mg²