Dr. Michaella Janse van Vuuren has excelled in multiple disciplines from her PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town in Computer vision and post doctorate in medical implant design at the Central University of Technology to being an internationally renowned 3D print designer, artist and an innovator in education.

She has been involved in 3D printing since 2006 when completed a Post doctorate in Custom Medical Implant design at the CUT. In 2008 she founded Nomili an innovative interdisciplinary research, consulting and 3D printed product development studio. Her Chrysanthemum centrepiece was voted the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa at Design Indaba 2009. In 2012 she was the VISI emerging designer of the year and in 2014 she was named one of the City Press 100 world class South Africans. In 2017 she was honored internationally as  one of the 40 Most Influential Women in 3D Printing by All3DP magazine.

The Horse Marionette, a fine art piece, was on exhibition for two years in the London Science museum, and is now part of the Museum’s permanent collection. Her ground-breaking 3D Printed Garden of Eden fashion collection debuted on the 3D Printshow catwalk in New York in 2014. Her work has been exhibited in some of the world’s most prestigious Design Fairs such as Design Days Dubai, Design Miami/Basel and Collective.1 

Michaella’s work has received wide reaching media exposure with feature articles on CNN, c-net, BBC, 3D Printing Industry, Additive Fashion and in South Africa in Popular Mechanics, Creative Feel, Finweek, M&G, Sunday Times and Fair Lady to name a few.  International interviews on CNBC, 3DPI.tv and locally on 702, SABC Morning live, Kyknet and Expresso. She has also been a writer for Archi-Expo an international magazine with a 1.8 Million subscriber base. She was invited speaker at the AM and 3DP Conference at the University of Nottingham, 3D Printshow in New York and London and iCAT in Slovenia. Locally she presented at TEDxJohannesburg, RAPDASA, Totally concrete and Samsung Inspire.

Michaella founded the Agents of the 3D revolution in 2013; through exhibitions and seminars the public was given access and education in cutting edge technology. She also exhibited the Agents of the 3D Revolution at the University of Johannesburg FADA gallery in 2013 and at GUILD, the flagship project of the World Design Capital 2014. The Agents showcased 3D printed work of international stars such as Joshua Harker and Nervous System, Lionel T. Dean, Thomas Mann and Prof. Keith Brown with global galleries V&A Museum (UK) Design Network Africa (Africa), Southern Guild (South Africa), R20th Gallery (New York), Rossana Orlandi (Italy).

Createneering is her most recent project. She is bringing her wealth of knowledge in the arts, design and engineering to education, developing courses that introduce technology learning playfully through the arts. Encouraging students to be come Createneers, individuals that use technology as tools to create instead of just being digital consumers.