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# 3D-Printed Metal Furniture
The Dragon Bench by Joris Laarman is the First of Its Kind

By Meghan Young | Published 2014-05-15 | Art & Design
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dragon-bench
References: [fastcodesign](http://www.fastcodesign.com/3030593/the-first-3-d-printed-metal-furniture-is-here) & [jorislaarman](http://www.jorislaarman.com/)

The Dragon Bench is the first of its kind. Made entirely out of metal, it wass 3D-printed, to the astonishment of many. Fashioned using a groundbreaking new technique called MX3D-Metal, the Dragon Bench ushers in an era of affordable metal structures. As Fast Co Design points out, "It's an exciting prospect, given the possibilities: Metal, after all, plays a key role in the infrastructure of buildings and cars."

Developed by Dutch designer Joris Laarman and backed by [Autodesk](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yume-rest), the original MX3D-Metal was a little rough around the edges, but the Dragon Bench shows that it has come a long way. Currently the centerpiece of a show held at the [Friedman Benda](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nendo-and-daniel-arsham) gallery in New York City, it is an undulating structure made of [intricate metal strips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pul-collection).

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 5.3/10
- Popularity: 81% | Activity: 71% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: Europe

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design)

## Key Themes

### What's Driving This Trend

- **Affordable Metal Structures:** The Dragon Bench showcases the potential of 3D-printed metal furniture, opening up opportunities for creating affordable metal structures for various applications.
- **Advancements in 3D Printing Techniques:** The development of MX3D-Metal revolutionizes 3D printing techniques, allowing for the creation of complex metal furniture and structures.
- **Integration of Metal in Design:** The use of metal in furniture design signifies a trend towards incorporating metal as a key element in creating unique and innovative furniture pieces.

### Who This Affects Most

- **Furniture Manufacturing:** The rise in 3D-printed metal furniture presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the traditional furniture manufacturing industry, enabling the production of more intricate and cost-effective metal furniture pieces.
- **Construction and Architecture:** The introduction of affordable metal structures through 3D printing opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the construction and architecture industry, facilitating the creation of innovative metal-based building components.
- **Automotive Industry:** By exploring the use of 3D-printed metal, the automotive industry can leverage disruptive innovation opportunities to develop lightweight and durable metal components for vehicles, leading to improved performance and fuel efficiency.

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