Idea to Support Designers: Commissioned Work on MakerWorld

MakerWorld MakerWorld General
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I know this might spark some strong opinions, and I apologise in advance…

MakerWorld is clearly dedicated to supporting designers through the various incentives they’ve put in place. The more designs that are uploaded, the more users are attracted to the platform, ultimately benefiting everyone involved.

I’ve been thinking about ways MakerWorld could support creators in a way that benefits everyone involved—including MakerWorld itself—and I would like to request that MakerWorld consider this as a potential avenue to explore: having in built features for commissioned work on Makerworld.

Not everyone wants to dive into 3D modeling, and as 3D printers become more common in homes, they’re transitioning from specialist tools to everyday appliances. With this shift, more people are being exposed to 3D printing without necessarily knowing how to model themselves. Offering a way for users to commission models from designers (who have opted into this service) on a platform they already trust could be a great way to help MakerWorld grow.

Many designers on MakerWorld essentially have a portfolio of work on the platform, so potential commissioners can review their work before asking for commissions.

Regarding pricing, it would be up to the designer and the commissioner to come to an agreement based on the complexity of the model, the time involved, filament for prototypes and other factors.

That said, there are definitely potential issues to consider, such as trust, scams, or disputes between creators and commissioners. These would need to be addressed to ensure the process is safe and smooth for everyone involved.

Another point to consider is who uploads the design once a commission is complete: the designer, the commissioner, or neither (if it’s just for personal use, maybe not at all)? All options could be made available and could be part of the agreement between the designer and the commissioner.

Ultimately, I think allowing commissioned work could be a good way for MakerWorld to support its creator community, foster growth, and bring more engagement to the platform. I’d love to hear your thoughts, as it’s probably quite a complex thing to implement correctly!

Thank you for listening to my “Ted Talk.”

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I’m not allowed to spend money on models though

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You don’t have to, all MakerWorld models would still be free. OP suggested adding a feature for users to be able to pay designers for a specific custom model.

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Yeah I was just thinking an extra feature people could enable if they wanted to offer that.

Wouldn’t be a pay wall thing for models. Although I do think MakerWorld may add that at some point.

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I once was asked to design something specific and was offered money for that, so that counts as commission I guess. I setup a ko-fi account for things like that. I personally do not need any commission functionality on MW.

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I just think making it all on one platform would give more people confidence as they wouldn’t need to sign up for another platform they might not of heard of. Also increased visibility that designers offer this service. But as you say there are ways to do it now. Also to hit him the point more its an opt in feature so will not effect anyone that doesn’t want to be involved.

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That would be a bit too much to be honest. Commissioned work would be spammed a lot into the community. I already see a lot of people uploading v1 and v2 and v…104534 of the same model instead of fixing the issues and uploading.

It would turn MakerWorld into a thangs clone.

The best option that I see to increase contribution is that Makerworld introduces a points-system, in which designers collab with MakerWorld and offer premium models in exchange for points.

If MakerWorld includes the commissions and such, it would add a lot of unneeded features into its 3d printing business model. That is something that isn’t intended for MakerWorld, instead for websites like freelancer or 99designs.

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