Design in the Details: How 3D Printing and Ingenuity Brought Our Brand to Life
At Albert Kahn, our values of ingenuity, curiosity, and belonging are more than just words on a wall. They shape the way we design, collaborate, and problem-solve—sometimes in big ways, and sometimes in surprisingly small ones. When we unveiled our new brand identity, one of our architectural team members, Jacob Smith, saw an opportunity to carry that vision forward in a way that was both creative and deeply intentional. The result? Custom 3D printed business card holders that do far more than just hold cards—they tell a story.
From Concept to Creation
Jacob Smith, an architectural designer at Albert Kahn, has long had a passion for 3D printing. It began back in architecture school, where he frequently used 3D printing to bring his designs to life—not just for himself, but for classmates who came to rely on his expertise and personal printer. It’s no surprise, then, that when it came time to reimagine our business card holders, he jumped at the opportunity.
At first, Jacob tried adapting the previous design. He kept the general business card holder shape—flat back, upright cards, and a Kahn bar element integrated into the side. But the bar was only truly visible from certain angles, and the high front added unnecessary bulk. It covered too much of the card, making it feel more like a container than a display. So he went back to the sketch.
Next, he explored a version where three Kahn bars served as vertical arms to hold the card stack. This brought the brand element forward, but again, it obscured too much of the business card itself. The strength of our identity comes from clarity, and this iteration was visually compelling but still not quite there. Then came a version that started to shift the approach. Instead of three bars, Jacob used two—one on each end. This design opened things up, and for the first time, he introduced the AK wordmark as a separate element in the base. The cards still leaned against a back support, but the proportions and brand integration were starting to align.
A Shift in Perspective
It wasn’t until he challenged the way cards are traditionally held that everything clicked. What if, instead of propping the cards vertically, the holder supported them within the angled shape of the Kahn bar itself? That small change opened up a whole new direction. Cards would sit at the signature 45-degree angle—not only honoring the brand language, but also maximizing the efficiency of the 3D printing process, since 45 degrees is the steepest angle that can be printed without additional supports. Suddenly, the visual identity wasn’t just applied to the object—it was the object.
From there, the design evolved quickly. A stable base was added to distribute the weight, and the AK wordmark became a modular, removable insert, printed in two separate pieces so that the colors could be easily swapped out. The result is sleek, minimal, and instantly recognizable. More importantly, it highlights the most important part of the holder: the card itself. The angled cradle subtly frames the logo, name, and contact info, reinforcing the design of the card while grounding it in the larger brand system.
The base takes about 2.5 hours to print, with three printable at once. The AK inserts take about 20 minutes and can be produced in a variety of colors. We captured the process from start to finish in a time-lapse video, which you can watch below.
Curiosity Turned Capability
What started as a curiosity in architecture school became a skill, and that skill has evolved into a key part of how Jacob works today. 3D printing is no longer just a hobby or a tool—it’s a mindset. One that embraces exploration, learning through trial and error, and turning imagination into reality. That same mindset has found its way into how our architecture team uses 3D printing across the board. Whether helping clients visualize massing and layout options or working through space adjacencies and design relationships, it allows us to bring a physical presence to ideas that can otherwise feel abstract. Models help bring visualization to dialogue, reveal what works (and what doesn’t), and provide a shared language early in the process. That’s the power of curiosity—when nurtured, it becomes a capability that benefits everyone.
These card holders may be small in size, but they speak volumes about what it means to belong. Jacob didn’t just apply his skills—he brought his point of view, his enthusiasm, and his craftsmanship to something that represents all of us. He saw an opening to make something better and more reflective of who we are now, and he took it. That sense of shared ownership and initiative is what belonging looks like in practice. It’s not just about having a seat at the table—it’s about being empowered to shape the table, or in this case, the thing that sits on it. When people feel seen and supported for who they are and what they’re passionate about, creativity thrives. The result is something that feels intentional, cohesive, and a little bit magical.
In the end, this story isn’t just about a business card holder. It’s about what happens when talent meets opportunity, and when people are encouraged to bring their whole, curious selves to their work. From a small piece of plastic, something meaningful took shape—just like the spaces we help our clients design every day.
