News: the rise of affordable 3D printers is sparking a boom in demand for personalised sex toys that can be ordered online or printed at home.

A raft of new companies are springing up to cater for the growing market for toys that can be customised according to taste and fabricated on domestic printers, preventing the potential awkwardness of receiving items in the post.

Above: JNaja 3D-printed sex toy by Velv'Or
Top: 3D-printed sex toys by Cunicode

"The world of 3D-printed sex toys is growing rapidly and every day more and more brands pop up," says designer Jelle Plantenga of Dutch "gentlemen's jewellery" brand Velv'Or, which offers printed nylon products for men (top image). "It has the potential to grow very big".

"I think the future holds a lot for this industry," agrees Tom Nardone, founder of New York-based Makerlove, a site that offers vibrator designs that can be downloaded for free. "It's definitely growing; it's sort of a phenomenon. People want to avoid the embarrassment of getting these things in the mail."

Above: Slender Pebble Vibe 3D-printed sex toy by Makerlove

Makerlove offers a range of open-source files that users can manipulate using 3D modelling software before printing them out. "People can do whatever they want with the files," says Nardone. "Different products work for different people. People have different bodies".

Makerlove's products are compatible with Bullet, the most popular type of vibrator motor, which slots inside the printed form. Nardone set up the site after his attempts to upload his designs to popular 3D filesharing site Thingiverse were rebuffed. "I had a conversation with their attorney," Nardone says. "He said 'we want to be open-source but we have to draw the line. You can't post that stuff here'."

Above: The Hello Pussycat 3D-printed sex toy by Makerlove

The mainstream 3D printing industry seems reluctant to talk about this nascent trend. Dezeen spoke to senior executives at two major printer manufacturers, both of whom said they were aware of the phenomenon but neither of whom wanted to speak on the record. One said: "What people do with our printers once they've bought them is up to them".

Dongiverse, a filesharing site dedicated to printable erotic objects, was launched three years as a joke "to parody the awkward amount of suspiciously phallic objects uploaded daily" to Thingiverse.

Above: The Slender G-spot 3D-printed sex toy by Makerlove

Three years on, Dongiverse has just announced plans to relaunch as a commercial venture where designers can sell their products. "We believe that is not so tongue-in-cheek any more, and want to make Dongiverse a real place where artists can upload their designs and put them in the hands of real people," the site announced last week.

Nardone, who also runs online store www.vibrators.com, says the rapidly falling cost of 3D printers is driving fetishists to experiment with the technology. "When printers dropped to $2,000, I bought one," he says, although he adds that "surface finish and materials" are the major drawbacks of current technology. He's also looking for designers to submit better-looking products he can sell.

Above: The Justin Bieber 3D-printed sex toy by Makerlove

"The issue is that consumer grade 3D printers can't print in body-safe materials yet," agrees Chelsea Downs of New York Toy Collective. "People can design their own toys and share the digital files online, but you still need someone to be able to take the printed prototype and turn it into a toy in a body-safe texture and material."

Even Dongiverse warns on its blog that home-printed items are not safe to use in the bedroom. "The prints are not water-tight," it advises, adding: "it’s damn near impossible to clean them." Instead, it recommends that printouts are used as moulds to cast toys in appropriate materials.

Above: Anal Beads 3D-printed sex toy by Makerlove

New York Toy Collective is also developing a site where customers can customise toys and print them at home. The company already offers a 3D scanning service allowing both males and females to scan their genitalia and print them out: the service is proving particularly popular in the run-up to Valentine's day - or "V-day" as they call it.

"We'll be scanning penises and vaginas in the next few weeks as part of a Valentine's day promotion in midtown Manhattan so you are welcome to come by and check it out live to or even get a scan," says Downs.

Above: The Rock and Roll 3D-printed sex toy by Makerlove

Downs predicts that as 3D printing technology improves, it could transform her industry. "Everyone's bodies and preferences are unique. Mainstream products are produced in very large runs because the cost of traditional prototyping is very high," she says. "3D printing allows people to design their very own toy, with their ideal dimensions and specifications and print prototypes relatively cheaply. We can then use those prototypes to make small runs, or even single products for interested individuals. It makes customisable toys possible and affordable."

Another newcomer to the scene is Barcelona designer Bernat Cuni of Cunicode, who plans to market his own range of sex-toys printed in ceramic, which is a "body-safe" material as well as being more luxurious. Cuni is investigating generative design software that allows customers to adjust the parameters of a product on screen before placing their order.

Above: 3D-printed sex toys by Velv'Or

"It's part of the beautification of sex goods," said Cuni, referring to the recent spate of design-led adult toys. Last year erotic design brand Jimmyjane said its sales were booming thanks to the popularity of erotic novels such as Fifty Shades of Grey.

"They've started to be considered design objects rather than purely functional items," says Cuni. "It's more related to the times than to 3D printing."

See all our stories about sex toys or read all our stories about 3D printing.

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The Frenchman, the Millionaire, the Tennis Coach and the Fireman are the first characters in the Smile Makers range of vibrators to be released.

"We hope that most women will find at least one of her fantasies within our line-up," Ramblin' Brands co-founder Peder Wikstrom told Dezeen.

Each Smile Maker is shaped to stimulate different erogenous zones and represent its character - the Fireman looks like a flame, the Millionaire is formed like a cigar, the Tennis Coach has a tennis ball at its head and the Frenchman resembles a tongue to symbolise linguistic skills, apparently.

The battery-powered, waterproof toys are made from silicon and have three speeds as well as a pulsation setting.

Brand concept and packaging design were created as a collaboration between creatives Micah Walker, Justine Armour, Pim Van Nunen and Deanne Constantine.

Earlier this year, we reported that designer sex toys had been enjoying record sales following the success of EL James' best-selling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey.

We featured a travel-friendly vibrator with a lock to avoid accidental activation not too long ago too.

See all our stories about sex toy design »
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The text below is from Ramblin' Brands:

What’s all this then?

Who’s behind these colorful little fellas with the funny names? Well, we are. And we’re Smile Makers. It’s our name because it’s what we believe in. Smiles. Big ones. They look beautiful on you. And feel even better.

We believe it so much we created this little gathering of friends for you to play with. Happiness gadgets. Glee contraptions. Joy creators. Vibrators. Call them what you will, they know exactly how to keep a smile on your dial.

And because we believe that’s as healthy as it is lovely, you won’t find us in places that might make you uncomfortable. No red lights, no grubby back alleys. That’s just not our style. You can find us at comeplaywithus.com though, and pretty soon in health and beauty departments all over the world.

It’s nice to meet you. And when you’re up for a smile, come play with us.

This is Us

Smile Makers are here to create smiles and share good vibes with the world. Smiles feel great and make you look lovely because there’s happiness behind them, and they’re contagious in the best kind of way.

What are Smile Makers? Only the friendliest collection of vibrators on the planet.

We think sexual health and overall health are connected, and a cheeky grin is one of the most gorgeous things you can wear. In fact, we think of a smile as the ultimate cosmetic.

Our Approach

You won’t find Smile Makers in places that make you uncomfortable. There will be no grubby back alleys or seedy sex shops for us. Instead you’ll find our collection online at comeplaywithus.com and pretty soon in health and beauty departments all over the world, right beside your favourite beauty brands.

That’s because, from concept and design to packaging and approach, we want to make it a happy experience to find a play partner. Having a bit of fun should never be something you’re made to feel awkward about, so we’re friendly, never take ourselves too seriously, and we promise to be nice to you. Every time.

Our Proposition

Beauty starts with a smile

Fantasies

To keep the giggles coming along and the tongues wagging, each of our products are named after a classic fantasy character. We’re kicking off with four, but will add more to the stable soon.

Sure it’s irreverent and cheeky, but that’s who we are. And part of being a more loved play friend is being able to not take yourself too seriously.

The toy-­like portraits we’ve created to illustrate the fantasy characters is our way of keeping it light and accessible. Couple this graphic style with our tone of voice and personality, and you have something very us.

The best thing the fantasy characters do for our brand is that they give us a range of voices through which we can talk to our consumers. Every time a Smile Maker comes out, the name gives us another unique and ownable way to talk about him.

The Fireman

Is it hot in here, or is it just you? Well, the house may be burning but this helmeted stud isn't afraid of an intense situation. He's strong. He's brave. And, oh my, he's going to heat you up and leave you smoldering. Lie back and enjoy that lovely towering inferno, you damsel in distress. Your hero is coming.

The Frenchman

Who knows what he's saying, but does it matter? This sexy linguist has got you locked in his gaze and soon you'll be delightfully fluent in his native tongue. So make yourself comfortable, mademoiselle, because when it comes to passion this master's going to give you an education.

The Tennis Coach

He's tanned, he looks mighty fine in a pair of little white shorts, and he sure knows what he's doing with that forehand stroke. According to him, perfect play is about skilful aim, so after your sweat session at the net, there's nothing quite like taking him back to yours for a little off-court, indoor action.

The Millionaire

His yacht. His private jet. His island. His thick, long diamond-encrusted fingers. And you. This guy is a collector of the finer things in life, and it turns out you're his favourite plaything of all. He's a powerful player with a great, big trust fund, and he knows exactly how to use it.

Background

Ramblin’ Brands worked with a collective from the agency world led by reknowned creatives Micah Walker, Justine Armour, Pim Van Nunen and Deanne Constantine to create Smile Makers.

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The Form 6 G3 vibrator has a universal power adapter and can be recharged by resting it on the accompanying charging base. The lithium ion battery will run for over six hours on a single charge.

It's made from medical grade silicone and is waterproof and washable. "We cut no corners in creating our products," said Ethan Imboden, founder of Jimmyjane. "When a part looks like steel, it is steel, never chromed plastic."

We previously reported on two earlier products in the range, created for Jimmyjane by San Francisco designer Yves Béhar – a vibrator with two independently-powered tips and another made from waterproof flexible silicone.

Earlier this year, we reported that designer sex toys had been enjoying record sales following the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, the bestselling erotic novel by EL James.

We've also featured an online boutique where customers can design their own bespoke sex toys and a table lamp with a vibrator stowed in its side.

See all our stories about sex toys »
See all our stories about Jimmyjane »

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Dezeen Wire: designer sex toys are enjoying record sales thanks to the success of bestselling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James, according to design-led vibrator brand Jimmyjane.

The brand, which recently collaborated with designer Yves Behar on a series of sex toys (above), said it had seen a spike in sales, which it attributes to the novel.

"While conversation around female sexuality and pleasure has rapidly picked up steam over the past decade, the popularity of Fifty Shades has caused an overwhelming societal shift bringing the dialogue to the fore," says Jimmyjane chief creative Ethan Imboden, who founded the brand in 2004. "These novels are accelerating the progress of vibrators and other accessories into the mainstream, and are igniting imaginations around the world."

See all our stories about sex toys | See all our stories about sex

Below is a press release from Jimmyjane:

July 18, 2012: Jimmyjane, the design-centric brand and leading innovator in the vibrator market, is part of a trend of pleasure product companies seeing a spike in sales and consumer interest due to the popularity of the adult novel, Fifty Shades of Grey. In addition to record sales - Fab.com recently revealed that their best selling item is a Jimmyjane vibrator - retailers of sex accessories are noticing a substantial shift in consumer attitudes in which customers are emerging seeking top quality, well-designed products.

Jimmyjane has seen a spike in sales across their full product range, and in particular in their best-selling line of FORM Waterproof Rechargeable Vibrators, designed by Yves Behar and Ethan Imboden. Unlike prior generations of sex accessories, FORM Vibrators exceed the high standards of quality, function and aesthetics that these more discerning customers routinely apply to the other products in their daily lives.

"While conversation around female sexuality and pleasure has rapidly picked up steam over the past decade, the popularity of Fifty Shades has caused an overwhelming societal shift bringing the dialogue to the fore. These novels are accelerating the progress of vibrators and other accessories into the mainstream, and are igniting imaginations around the world," says Ethan Imboden, founder and Chief Creative of Jimmyjane. Imboden has worked to break down the taboo around female sexual pleasure and pleasure products since he launched his brand in 2004.

The three most recent Jimmyjane vibrator launches were a design collaboration between Imboden and Yves Behar, noted industrial designer and founder of Fuseproject. Behar believes "The more that consumers know about the pleasure products that are available to them, the more they're empowered to make educated choices about design, quality and efficacy. From the numbers we're seeing, Fifty Shades seems to be providing quite an education."

At Jimmyjane, the conventional wisdom is that this is just the beginning of the vibrator's movement into the mainstream dialogue. Recently there has been a wave of exposure, from the film Hysteria (about the invention of the vibrator) and the Tony award-winning play, In the Next Room, to product features on shows such as Mrs. Brown's Boys and even Oprah. Earlier this year, Channel 4 commissioned Sex Toy Story, a documentary looks behind Britain's biggest supplier of sex toys, Ann Summers.

About Jimmyjane

Jimmyjane is a design-centric brand founded on the belief that life is better with a sexy twist. We design products and experiences to provide pleasure, strengthen connection, and create provocative possibility. From decadent massage candles and natural massage lotions to luxurious blindfolds and the iconic 24k gold vibrator, if you enjoy being sexy, we have something for you. Jimmyjane has been honored with numerous design awards, and new concepts are continually in development to bring sophisticated sexiness to all. For more information, visit WWW.JIMMYJANE.COM.

ABOUT YVES BEHAR/FUSEPROJECT

Founded in 1999 by Swiss-born visionary Yves Béhar, fuseproject is committed to projects that utilize technological innovation and design to improve people's day-to-day lives, promote sustainable living, and create positive social change. The fuseproject dream is for all consumers to be aware of the environmental and social impact of materials and packaging, and to buy according to humanitarian, ethical, and environmental loyalties. www.fuseproject.com

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Made to Pleasusre, a new online venture allowing customers to customize their own sex toys opens today.

Top: Ripple

The online store features a bespoke boutique where customers can design their own sex toys using a standard template, altering the size and shape depending on personal preferences.

There are also six different styles of 'off the peg' toys to choose from.

Above: Pearl

More stories on sex design »

Above: Curve

Here's some more information about the products:

Made To Pleasure is a new purveyor of pleasure toys unlike any other – beautiful to look at, luxuriously crafted and exquisite to use; and, for the first time, completely customisable to each woman’s own desires.

Above: Taper

Our raison d’etre is simple – to bring the ultimate pleasure to women. Every woman has thoroughly individual desires, predilections and even anatomical differences. There’s no one-size-fits-all option at Made To Pleasure – each woman should be led by her own preferences.

Above: Ellipse

Working closely with groups of 30+ testers our design team has created the Bespoke Boutique, an interactive design tool to allow women to craft something totally unique that’s perfect just for them. In addition we offer a range of six gorgeous “Off The Peg” toys, each developed specifically to suit various body types and preferences.

Above: Hourglass

Every single one of our toys, whether custom-made or selected from the range, is unashamedly beautiful; each unique piece crafted from premium materials and uniquely designed to satisfy specific requirements.

Founded by two London based designers, Made To Pleasure will be launched in time for Valentine’s day, 2011.

See also:

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Sabar sex toy by Michael Young	Love Design by various designers	Aloe by Discoh

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