I learned to 3D model - 198 hours over 2 years.

The vase files (PolyVessel):
www.build-a-skill.com
Free sample of the vase
www.prusaprinters.org/prints/...
To download the files for the shoes (GraveDigger):
www.prusaprinters.org/prints/...
Grasshopper is a plugin for a 3D modeling program called Rhino. Architects use it to design buildings and cool patterns. It took over a year of work, but I was able to design some 3d printed shoes for my wife.
Grasshopper is different from Blender/Maya/3DMax in that it uses a NURBs based modeler, instead of mesh. It's different from Solidworks/Fusion360/Catia/Onshape in that it's easier to make more complex shapes. Closest 3D analogue is probably Houdini.
**This looks easy because I have may hours of experience in Solidworks. If you're starting out your 3D journey completely from scratch, you'll have a much steeper learning curve.**
If you'd like to learn to 3d model using Grasshopper or Rhino a 90 day free trial is available.
Music
Finally by Loxbeats / loxbeats Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0
Look by KV / kvmusicprod Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0 International - CC BY 4.0 www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
0:00 Intro: Going to learn Grasshoppper
1:08 Project 1: Cube with holes
2:23 Why grasshopper?
3:10 Project 2: Vase, spirally
3:38 Project 3: Tutorials, by Nick Senske
3:54 Project 4: Tentacle, detached
4:04 Project 5: Return of the tutorials
4:10 Project 6: Supports
6:09 Project 7: Dials, Textured
7:03 Project 8: Baby Bottle, Be-diamonded
8:46 Project 9: PolyVessel vase
10:44 Sponsored by Build-a-Skill (me)
11:55 Project 10: The shoes.
18:49 Beauty shots, try-on!
19:42 Total time spent, breakdown

[@cadmiumgames]

"But then I remembered my wife was bilaterally symmetric" Honestly laughed out loud for a good while at that one xD

[@Art-uz3fk]

For a second I thought she coincidentally had some weird phenotype that meant her left and right foot were identical (not mirrors) lol

[@lottikarotti3684]

"Architects learn it in school" hahaha laughing in tears, while thinking back to the 100 hours of grasshopper tutorial on youtube while our professors didn't even know the software 😅

[@BuildaSkill]

Sorry to hear, they should have at least hired an adjunct to teach it to you.

[@JA-ul9vc]

@@BuildaSkill as this is a very specialised skill (and as this type of specialised design makes up a tiny portion of an architect's actual job) it is also small part of an architecture degree. Much of an architecture degree is focused on the generation of concepts, how to optimise space, how to think critically about space and then how to document and communicate these ideas effectively and then build them. Grasshopper is an amazing tool (I use it all the time) but it is just that, a tool, and one of many in an architect's toolbox.

[@painong]

Game design students are in a similar situation, most of our time was spent on watching tutorial videos in class and the other part asking for teachers help

[@LaSombraa]

LOL

[@TheDragonfriday]

@@painong almost like whae the point of college, schools, universe etc

[@UsernameisMac]

OH MY GOD HE BACK!!!

[@andywhite6078]

I'm so glad that you're still posting videos! Love the final design, the black and red would have been cool too though!

[@BuildaSkill]

I agree on the red and black, I bet there are some cool color combos out there.

[@bigannoyingbanana1365]

@@BuildaSkill purple and yellow

[@guywithnoskill]

This dude is back with his skills

[@Grrrisly]

THE RETURN OF A LEGEND!!! Edit: i also wanted to say, I'm glad you're back and that you responded to comments over the 2 years while you were making this video. You're honestly one of the most down to earth people and content creators I've seen. You also have a great sense of humour and a nice voice, I love rewatching your videos and patiently waiting for your next great creation :) See you in 1-2 years again, until then take care ^^

[@BuildaSkill]

Thank you for the kind words. See you then!

[@JJ-gm8yp]

Absolutely love the idea you mention at the end about incremental project uploads on another channel. Find these videos endlessly inspiring and would love to see as much as possible! Cheers from England

[@BuildaSkill]

Thank you much. I enjoy the vastness of shoving so much work into a little video, but I leave a ton on the cutting room floor, so there might be a better balance.

[@NerdAndAHalf_]

I've missed these videos, i love watching you learn new skills, keep up the good work, and here's to more in the future!

[@BuildaSkill]

Thank you!

[@Cheesequicksand]

He’s back!

[@nicolaspoler6360]

agh! I love this channel! I cant wait to see new content and how the style grows and changes :)

[@tyrisiustyroniusrex8322]

This is inspiring man. Great job. I'm speechless. The amount of effort and time in these projects are insane. Can't wait to see more of your projects

[@luny8542]

I missed this channel. Thank you so much for putting time into these videos!

[@sirforcer]

This is very interesting, I hadn't heard of Grasshopper before as I mainly work in game dev. The process of modeling with nodes reminds me a lot of Houdini, which has a similar system for modeling. I've only ever used it to make basic buildings for a destruction sim, but the concepts look similar to what you showed of Grasshopper. Great video!

[@DrDwarven]

I have been waiting years for you to upload finally

[@BillyCrawshrimp]

Even with so few videos, this channel is one of the coolest ones I’ve come across, so glad to see more from you!

[@BuildaSkill]

Thanks!

[@eaterofcrayons7991]

I love your sense of humor, and the delivery is so perfect.

[@121_g8]

I don't understand how you don't have more subscribers, it's really fun to watch you do projects and learn these things.

[@jese3608]

Eeey, welcome back! Stoked for this video.

[@03sheep]

So glad your back!

[@slimcheese4611]

YOUR BACK I LOVE UR CONTENT and I hope I keep on posting!!!👍👍👍👍

[@aeroplane9000]

Amazing video! Its great how you explain the learning process and you also bring so much design skill to the table. Both the Vase and the shoe look absolutely professional especially considering they are completely 3D printed. Im amazed you were able to design such a complex piece as the shoes, featuring so many different materials, even after 200 hours of learning. Looking forward to the next video, whenever it is coming out!

[@BuildaSkill]

Thank you. Yes I have a lot of design experience with other software which helps. And the vase was kind of a happy accident, it pretty much had to be that way due to the limitations of fdm printing.

[@ethankempista625]

This channel is awesome, nice work on learning a new skill!

[@camdenjohnson6189]

"Architects learn how to use this software in school" yeah my professors expect you to know it and they don't teach it. We learn the same way you did and you are waaaayyyy better than 99 percent of us so you're doing amazing!

[@CHITUS]

I've watched this three times so far and it's amazing content and actually educational if you pay attention, thx for ur content and don't forget to upload again next year

[@haimoon102]

I'm so happy that you haven't been snapped out of reality and are still alive your content is high key top tier

[@Sludgefriend]

Really enjoyed your videos! Can’t wait to see if the next one comes out this year or next

[@Popotato7777]

Just readed a comment on last vid that said "dead channel", i had that vid in my watch list almost a month and never saw your channel before it, so lucky me i get to see it, cool vid.

[@BuildaSkill]

Perfect timing!

[@bodyblend]

These videos are particularly calming amongst other learning channels, as well as quite captivating!

[@BlueGreenGlobe]

Glad you’re back!

[@soothie2217]

100k subscribers, congrats!

[@catlord8568]

I can not tell you how long I've been waiting for another upload! When I saw this video in my feed, no kidding, I started screaming.

[@kappasig437]

That shoe would be a awesome house design!

[@Brandon79797]

Keep this up it’s great can’t wait to see more skills. :)

[@BuildaSkill]

Thank you, planning on another one, hopefully same time next year....

[@iFlojoe]

Thank you for taking us along :)

[@xanderschwartz9864]

Welcome back! I was just here a couple weeks ago to see if you learns a new skill

[@cranktowncity]

Dude, I love your videos. Excellent story telling, and super inspiring! Thanks man!

[@BuildaSkill]

Thanks, I really like your videos too!

[@pawestenzel3128]

Looking forward to see the next video man !

[@LumberJake23]

Great video! This is straight up my alley. Love the function and form of this video with a clever, soothing narration to boot. Easy subscribe. I'm a mechanical designer that works a lot with Solidworks and just bought a 3d printer to play around with. I'll look into grasshopper as well :)

[@termsofuniverse7251]

This is a very cool from start to finish video! I think your concept shoes look great as well. I would love to see more design prototype videos.

[@BuildaSkill]

Thanks! Glad you like them.

[@DistanceTraveled]

The shoes look fantastic!

[@greenmambaplay1410]

The Legend si back!💪💪💪

[@kingofnorc5430]

Just found your channel and I've watched all your stuff. I've really enjoyed it! You seems like a pretty down to earth chill guy and you make the otherwise mundane super entertaining! Keep up the good work and I hope you find even more success in what you love

[@BuildaSkill]

Thank you!

[@davidmejia7361]

Incredible, as an 10th semester architecture intern i encourage you to give the profession a try!. nice videos, thanks for sharing.

[@reyanshjain8775]

dude you are back love it

[@Witnessretire]

Amazing, glad you posted again

[@HalloGaming]

I can't believe I didn't see this video sooner I loved your 3D Pen video and this one too!

[@matoflynn]

What an awesome person. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@DrZeus108]

Let's GOOO!! New amazing video!! Can't wait for the next one!!

[@dannyandhisbass]

I can’t wait for the next video, see you next year ❤️

[@jetjir3434]

You are back…. Amazing

[@steven-xb7rf]

Wow, such an underrated channel! Hope you get more subs soon!

[@pablito5326]

love the video . cant wait till the next one

[@jonateyourcookies]

Finally you’re back with a new video!

[@AlisIsConfused]

awesome video! had no idea this software existed, looks super hard to learn but extremely powerful. bought the files :) will print some out for christmas

[@BuildaSkill]

Thank you so much!

[@lyrana]

Man, this is nuts. Fxckin amazing. I'm also learning Rhino Grasshopper to 3D my own high heels. So motivational for me to see you wear them shoes!!! I just need to start printing and not so much about the initial results...I'm sure it'll take loads of iterations so I just need to start

[@BuildaSkill]

Good luck, if you can get a foot scan while you're standing in a pair of shoes you like, you'll have a pretty good starting place.

[@j3dYT]

Not the easiest skill to learn. I´m impressed. 👍

[@riccardoraffaele5479]

Nice and interesting video as usual

[@YasinNabi]

an awesome channel, and great tips.... thanks for the share sir.....

[@jacobcirpili1397]

Great content!

[@yujinchung5361]

Great video really cool how you learned how to do this

[@3DPlasticFantasy]

Its fascinating how you progressed all this time along, Grasshopper doesn't seem to be easy at all.

[@auroramoro6357]

Great job man

[@Keen27]

man i really missed these videos! They're always so interesting and fun to watch

[@FallenTako]

Recently came back a few weeks ago and rewatched your videos again. It was a pleasant surprise to see your name in my sub box!!!! Hope you're doing well.

[@BuildaSkill]

Thank you for watching them, they're fun to make, they just take me forever.

[@crystalteapot9353]

this is really motivating, im currently studying industrial design, and to think that i can just learn things like this, outside of school on my own, is really eye opening, also something about learning a new software from scratch is really intimidating, but this makes it look like so much fun

[@BuildaSkill]

I'm an industrial designer, and have a lot of Solidworks experience, so it was a pretty easy transition for me. Once you have one down, the others are a lot easier to pick up.

[@sugasheeze]

This dude shaved his legs to take these shots, I'm literally dying right now. The bait and switch when he walked out in the shoes at the end was perfect.

[@f1lth33]

I love ur channel and ur vids hope you post more and you deserve all the views and subscribers honestly you deserve more subscribers

[@skylineeeeeeful]

Spectacular, and by the way, I didn't even know about grasshopper software!

[@quentinlee2342]

This guys literally the freaking best!!!!!

[@joshadler7630]

This is sick, really cool! Your awesome. Love the Project, you should start a shoe line.

[@alexandermaverick9474]

I love your use of tracing paper! I need to learn to use it like that too!

[@BuildaSkill]

Am not even that old, but all the younger designers give me a hard time about it!

[@aim__freakz8499]

super cool video! :)

[@luismartinezvalverde4513]

Thank you for showing me the potential of this program, i have been trying to get into 3D moddeling since a while, i have tried Tinkercad and inventor but never tried anything with this kind of workflow. It seems like there is a hard work to get where you have achieved to get, but it is always fun to try new paths. So again thank you. And by the way sorry for my english im a funny guy from spain. One more thing, i have just discovered u and already can't wait till the next video, so i feel like you are doing a great work with your videos.😁

[@BuildaSkill]

Thanks, if you don't want to shell out money to get started, I might start with the free tier of blender or fusion 360. Fusion 360/inventor is a lot more straightforward than grasshopper.

[@ricks3754]

So cool man 👌🏼

[@nightrunner7870]

Welcome back, hope we get a video next year 2

[@derandere7501]

this whole chinnel is so inspiring!

[@Pickyricky69420]

Belly laughs 14:42. I totally subscribed! Your jokes are as stimulating as your content.

[@pogguff]

love the videos just got into to this stuff and i find your content amazing

[@peedtron]

I like ur comment but stop playing fortnite brother

[@pogguff]

@@peedtron bro this is my old account

[@pogguff]

@@peedtron i dont use this account anymore

[@pogguff]

@@peedtron other than to watch yt

[@rida9639]

Worth the wait

[@Asscrackk]

Those shoes look so cool wish I had 3D printer btw love ur channel

[@archamondearchenwold8084]

i love this so so so so so much and u r a massive inspiration and very humorous lmao

[@user-cd4bx6uq1y]

This made me remember just how cool tech stuff felt as a kid

[@notdelta99]

what an awesome video

[@MDLEUA]

Great video! ❤ GH

[@whyteaz_]

welcome back nice video

[@jacobcirpili1397]

This video is awesome

[@spencertaylor30]

I love this channel and would like to see you work on a soft goods project like a bag, working from sketch to physical product using marvelous designer or CLO all the way to sewing machine. Whatever you make has a double value as a digital product, and a physical product. or a project making your own simple game app.

[@BuildaSkill]

Yeah, I'd love to do all those projects!

[@Rainbowfox_]

You know, I thought this guy quit, which would suck! Cause I really like this channel, so I’m glad you’re back! And wow! 198 hours?!

[@samueleveleigh2767]

you know this was uploaded like 5 months ago right?

[@yungwildnfree]

@@samueleveleigh2767 that doesn't tell anything with the one year break before the video released...

[@jacobcirpili1397]

Very informative

[@alexmazvi]

It's great that you learned to model using geometry nodes. Blender just added that function not that long ago, and it's amazing what you can achieve with it.

[@jakeshipley1]

This is awesome I'm gonna look into grasshopper lol

[@Forceseek]

Super cool, can't wait to see the next skill you will be building :) Maybe the algorithmic part of Grasshopper gave you the motivation to pick up programmation ?

[@BuildaSkill]

I would love to learn to program, it's definitely on the list.

[@v8cola]

cool video!

[@3DEric]

great video

[@jookie8469]

He's back!

[@Punchackalumbich]

Punchackalumbich HAPPY NEW ANIMATION YEAR 🎄

[@jacobcirpili1397]

Very educational

[@rubenmedina8392]

great video, I would love to see a video about 3d printing

[@manderia6369]

what a cool video idea..

[@rickyluvbot.mp4]

I like your words, magic man

[@M4XC4V413R4]

Just FYI, you can model programmatically like this with nodes, in Blender, which I'm sure you know is free.

[@Speed001]

I've never used nodes to design things before. Any idea what it's like compared to programs like SolidWorks?