Nicholas Desbiens Launched Fahz 2.0 Vase Project

The personalized 3D-printed vase project allows customers to create designs from smartphone facial profiles.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Manufacturing

Architect Nicholas Desbiens has launched a new 3D-printing service that converts smartphone facial profiles into custom-designed physical vases. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you purchase a personalized 3D-printed item designed through an automated online tool?

Architect Nicholas Desbiens has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Fahz 2.0, a service that turns user-submitted side-profile photographs into custom 3D-printed vases. This new iteration automates the production process by linking custom web designs directly to a manufacturing partner.

Why it matters

The platform aims to demonstrate how mass-customized products can be manufactured efficiently without the need for constant manual intervention. By utilizing an automated API workflow, the project streamlines the transition from a digital user submission to a physical object.

Kickstarter rewards start at $30 for a three-inch vase and $55 for a five-inch version, compared to standard retail prices of $35 and $70 respectively. Designs can incorporate up to six unique facial profiles per vase using black or white PLA material.

The players

Nicholas Desbiens

He is the architect and founder behind the Desbiens Design Research firm located in Brooklyn.

Slant 3D

This company provides the manufacturing infrastructure that produces the vases through an automated API workflow.

The details

Customers use software to convert side-profile photos into 3D printable meshes, which are then transmitted to Slant 3D for automated manufacturing. Each finished order includes an engraved serial number and a digital 3D counterpart accessible via a link or QR code.

The original concept was initially developed in 2014.
The first Fahz project launched in January 2015 and ceased in 2018.
The Fahz 2.0 Kickstarter campaign began on October 7, 2026.
The campaign is scheduled to conclude on November 2, 2026.
Deliveries are expected to reach customers in December 2026.

Market Landscape

This project reintroduces a niche concept by leveraging modern automated additive manufacturing workflows that were less accessible during the project's original 2015 run. It positions the service to compete in the personalized gift sector by removing manual oversight from the production cycle.

Shoppers can participate in the project through Kickstarter to secure discounted pricing on personalized vases before standard retail rates apply. Deliveries are expected to arrive approximately two weeks after an order is placed once regular operations begin.

The takeaway

The project demonstrates a shift toward high-volume customization enabled by direct digital-to-manufacturing APIs. Consumers looking for personalized goods should note that automated production requires precise input data, such as high-quality side-profile photography, for the best results.