[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":184},["ShallowReactive",2],{"CYotOyamthu1Nw9c7Pvi_x39HNujBHTDeOaoGjNv89Y":3,"article_behind-the-design-meet-the-man-behind-the-props-kirby-downey_solidworks":10,"_apollo:default":182,"_apollo:identified":183},{"mailchimpAudience":4},{"actionUrl":5,"slug":6,"locale":7,"default":8,"__typename":9},"","behind-the-design-meet-the-man-behind-the-props-kirby-downey","en","https:\u002F\u002F3ds.us3.list-manage.com\u002Fsubscribe\u002Fpost?u=ed4601044e1936748c0d2aa6b&id=e5080ff9fe&f_id=002d4de2f0","MailchimpAudience",{"posts":11},{"nodes":12,"__typename":181},[13],{"id":14,"slug":6,"title":15,"uri":16,"excerpt":17,"locale":18,"featuredImage":21,"tableOfContents":30,"content":31,"date":32,"authorJobTitle":5,"author":33,"masterings":45,"globalTags":66,"products":106,"disciplines":117,"seo":170,"__typename":180},"cG9zdDo2NzE3Mg==","Behind the Design: Meet the Man Behind the Props— Kirby Downey","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Fbehind-the-design-meet-the-man-behind-the-props-kirby-downey","\u003Cp>Kirby Downey is known for his 3D printed video game props, and…\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"locale":19,"__typename":20},"en_US","Locale",{"node":22,"__typename":29},{"large":23,"__typename":24,"medium_large":25,"thumbnail":26,"srcSet":27,"sizes":28},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625.png.webp","MediaItem","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625-768x576.png.webp","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625-150x150.png.webp","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625.png.webp 800w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625-300x225.png.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625-768x576.png.webp 768w","(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px","NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge",[],"\u003Cp>If you can dream it, you can design it— and make it. That’s pretty much Kirby Downey’s design philosophy since discovering SOLIDWORKS and 3D printing in 2009. Kirby has received acclaim for his 3D-printed designs of video game props over the years, and has worked with video game companies, including PlayStation, Bethesda Game Studios, and Activision. You’ve likely seen his work as he’s been featured on the SOLIDWORKS blog and is a SOLIDWORKS Champion who runs the London SOLIDWORKS User Group – London SWUG. Sound familiar?\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"size-large thumbnail wp-caption aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625.png.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67174\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625.png.webp 800w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625-300x225.png.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fkirbyportalgunnov2625-768x576.png.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Kirby with a portal gun he designed and 3D printed.\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003Cp>If not, meet Kirby Downey, a designer and maker who has a passion for 3D printing and design and sharing his knowledge with others.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Before I discuss Kirby’s journey with SOLIDWORKS, here are some things you may or may not know about him:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>He’s from South Africa.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Growing up, he wanted to be a pilot.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>He is a self-taught SOLIDWORKS user.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>He loves SOLIDWORKS, often spending Friday nights working on projects with friends and learning from each other.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>His favorite SOLIDWORKS feature is surfacing.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>He holds a Guinness World record.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>His website has more than 9 million views.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>His YouTube channel has over 1 million views.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>He enjoys doing cross-stitch to relax while watching TV.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>His favorite game is Red Dead Redemption, but his guilty pleasure is Minecraft.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>His favorite show is The Simpsons, and he has a tattoo to prove it.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>He listens to metal and punk rock music.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>He runs The CORE podcast with Jonny Harrison.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>He doesn’t have a 3D printer at home now that he has access to industrial-sized printers at work.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>He is licensed to sail yachts on the open ocean.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>He got a 100% in surfacing on the SOLIDWORKS CAD Design Professional (CSWP) exam.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>Let’s take a trip down memory lane to learn more about the man behind the props.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Growing up, Kirby wanted to be a pilot. He still does. He’s got a home flight simulation setup he uses to work on his flying skills. “I’ve always had an interest in aviation and aircraft, but not just flying them, also the mechanical side of things, how things work in terms of the mechanisms, and how the landing gear folds out. I was always fascinated watching a plane take off, thinking to myself, ‘how do they take those big wheels and actually make them fold up?’”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"size-large thumbnail wp-caption aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fflightsimulatorimagnov2625-768x1024.png.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67175\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fflightsimulatorimagnov2625-768x1024.png.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fflightsimulatorimagnov2625-225x300.png.webp 225w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fflightsimulatorimagnov2625.png.webp 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Kirby flying in a professional flight simulator.\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003Cp>Kirby was also a fan of LEGO, and he continues to embrace his childhood, building and making things with his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Kirby’s introduction to design and 3D printing started in 2009 while studying industrial and product design at the Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. The university had a lab with a 3D printer, where “I realized whatever I make on screen, I can make in real life—I can make whatever I want,” he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"size-large thumbnail wp-caption aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fmechanicalcharacternov2625.png.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67176\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fmechanicalcharacternov2625.png.webp 800w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fmechanicalcharacternov2625-300x300.png.webp 300w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fmechanicalcharacternov2625-150x150.png.webp 150w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002Fmechanicalcharacternov2625-768x768.png.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Kirby’s first 3D-printed design of a mechanical character designed in SOLIDWORKS.\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003Cdiv class=\"ds-video\">\u003Ca data-3ds-videoplayer=\"modal\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=pxNlpA2K4no\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cspan class=\"ImageCover Border Block\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\u002F\u002Fimg.youtube.com\u002Fvi\u002FpxNlpA2K4no\u002Fhqdefault.jpg); width:100%; height: 100%;\">\u003Cspan class=\"Btn--circle isCenter\">\u003Ci class=\"Icon Icon--playBig\">\u003C\u002Fi>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003Cp>What inspires Kirby today? Other people. He is inspired by watching others create and seeing how they turn an idea into the final product. This inspires him to create and take what he’s learned to improve his own skillset and hopefully inspire others.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>You can catch Kirby at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.\u003Cstrong>3D\u003C\u002Fstrong>EXPERIENCE World.com\u002F?_gl=1*58rgs9*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NjQxODA3MjcuQ2p3S0NBaUE1NXJKQmhCeUVpd0FGa1kxUUtfSmhNZHhhdXJpRTJNTWZQLUVzVGNnSUQ2TWQ3MTJjMGdCZGJhZkJfbktyLThMcEZKa3BCb0NXaGtRQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*NDA3MjczMDg4LjE3NjQxNzQ2OTk.*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..*_ga*MTYyMjg1NzAwOS4xNzY0MTc0Njk4*_ga_TPGKGE8GTG*czE3NjQxODA3MjUkbzIkZzAkdDE3NjQxODA3MjUkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_9M7WCXDL10*czE3NjQxODA3MjUkbzIkZzAkdDE3NjQxODA3MjUkajYwJGwwJGgw&gclid=CjwKCAiA55rJBhByEiwAFkY1QK_JhMdxauriE2MMfP-EsTcgID6Md712c0gBdbafB_nKr-8LpFJkpBoCWhkQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADqOeJRE-KEQs96ya6B44eHD2K7Lf\">\u003Cstrong>3D\u003C\u002Fstrong>EXPERIENCE World\u003C\u002Fa>, where he really enjoys coming together with SOLIDWORKS users from around the world. He plans to share his story on how someone with ADHD could use their unique differences to their advantage to help further their career and their personal life. He’ll also be helping with user group activities and filming the happenings of the event on behalf of \u003Ca href=\"mailto:%20https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002F@TheCOREPodcast\">The CORE podcast\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp>\n“I’ve got my fingers in almost every piece of the pie at World, because I enjoy being part of that, organizing things, and arranging. It’s the user group leader in me.”\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\u003Cp>Check out Kirby’s latest blog “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogs.solidworks.com\u002Ftech\u002F2025\u002F10\u002Fusing-solidworks-and-3d-printing-to-designing-custom-lego-wall-mounts.html\">Using SOLIDWORKS and 3D Printing to Design Custom LEGO Wall Mounts\u003C\u002Fa>,” and visit his website to see more of his work at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fkirbydowney.com\u002F\">https:\u002F\u002Fkirbydowney.com\u002F\u003C\u002Fa>. Follow Kirby on his YouTube channel here: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002F@KirbyDowney\">https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002F@KirbyDowney\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-01-05T08:00:04",{"node":34,"__typename":44},{"nicename":35,"description":36,"slug":35,"name":37,"firstName":38,"lastName":39,"avatar":40,"__typename":43},"ritastange","Rita Stange was born and raised in New Mexico where their state question is “red or green (chile)?” She is a freelance writer and has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of New Mexico and has been covering design technology including CAD\u002FBIM for 19 years. In addition to the SOLIDWORKS blog her work has been featured in publications including Engineering.com, Engineers Rule, and Albuquerque the Magazine. She is a dog (and cat) lover and her side gig is teaching Zumba Fitness.","Rita Stange","Rita","Stange",{"url":41,"__typename":42},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frita_stange.png-96x96.webp","Avatar","User","NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge",{"nodes":46,"edges":58,"__typename":65},[47,53],{"id":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"uri":51,"__typename":52},"dGVybTo5NQ==","Customer Stories","customer-stories","\u002Fmastering\u002Fcustomer-stories\u002F","Taxonomy_mastering",{"id":54,"name":55,"slug":56,"uri":57,"__typename":52},"dGVybTo5Mw==","SWUGN","swugn","\u002Fmastering\u002Fswugn\u002F",[59,63],{"isPrimary":60,"node":61,"__typename":62},false,{"id":48,"name":49,"slug":50,"uri":51,"__typename":52},"PostToTaxonomy_masteringConnectionEdge",{"isPrimary":60,"node":64,"__typename":62},{"id":54,"name":55,"slug":56,"uri":57,"__typename":52},"PostToTaxonomy_masteringConnection",{"nodes":67,"__typename":105},[68,74,79,82,87,92,97,102],{"id":69,"name":70,"slug":71,"uri":72,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjA0","3D Printing","3d-printing","\u002Ftags\u002F3d-printing\u002F","Taxonomy_tag",{"id":75,"name":76,"slug":77,"uri":78,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjA1","3DEXPERIENCE Platform","3dexperience-platform","\u002Ftags\u002F3dexperience-platform\u002F",{"id":80,"name":49,"slug":50,"uri":81,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjA4","\u002Ftags\u002Fcustomer-stories\u002F",{"id":83,"name":84,"slug":85,"uri":86,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NTk5","Design","design","\u002Ftags\u002Fdesign\u002F",{"id":88,"name":89,"slug":90,"uri":91,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjU5","eDrawings","edrawings","\u002Ftags\u002Fedrawings\u002F",{"id":93,"name":94,"slug":95,"uri":96,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjM2","Makers","makers","\u002Ftags\u002Fmakers\u002F",{"id":98,"name":99,"slug":100,"uri":101,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjAz","SOLIDWORKS","solidworks","\u002Ftags\u002Fsolidworks\u002F",{"id":103,"name":55,"slug":56,"uri":104,"__typename":73},"dGVybTo5NjIz","\u002Ftags\u002Fswugn\u002F","PostToTaxonomy_tagConnection",{"edges":107,"nodes":114,"__typename":116},[108],{"isPrimary":60,"node":109,"__typename":113},{"id":110,"name":99,"slug":100,"uri":111,"__typename":112},"dGVybTo1Ng==","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002F","Taxonomy_product","PostToTaxonomy_productConnectionEdge",[115],{"id":110,"name":99,"slug":100,"uri":111,"__typename":112},"PostToTaxonomy_productConnection",{"nodes":118,"edges":159,"__typename":169},[119,133,143,150],{"id":120,"name":121,"slug":122,"uri":123,"parentId":124,"disciplines":125,"__typename":132},"dGVybTo2MA==","3D CAD","3d-cad","\u002Fdisciplines\u002F3d-cad\u002F","dGVybTo1OA==",{"nodes":126,"__typename":131},[127],{"title":121,"uri":128,"parentId":129,"__typename":130},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fdesign-engineering\u002F3d-cad","cG9zdDozNzcz","Discipline","Taxonomy_disciplineToDisciplineConnection","Taxonomy_discipline",{"id":134,"name":135,"slug":136,"uri":137,"parentId":138,"disciplines":139,"__typename":132},"dGVybTo2Ng==","Education","education","\u002Fdisciplines\u002Feducation\u002F",null,{"nodes":140,"__typename":131},[141],{"title":135,"uri":142,"parentId":138,"__typename":130},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Feducation",{"id":144,"name":94,"slug":95,"uri":145,"parentId":124,"disciplines":146,"__typename":132},"dGVybTo2Mg==","\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fmakers\u002F",{"nodes":147,"__typename":131},[148],{"title":94,"uri":149,"parentId":129,"__typename":130},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fdesign-engineering\u002Fmakers",{"id":151,"name":152,"slug":153,"uri":154,"parentId":138,"disciplines":155,"__typename":132},"dGVybTo3Mg==","Management and Collaboration","management-collaboration","\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fmanagement-collaboration\u002F",{"nodes":156,"__typename":131},[157],{"title":152,"uri":158,"parentId":138,"__typename":130},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fmanagement-collaboration",[160,163,165,167],{"isPrimary":60,"node":161,"__typename":162},{"parentId":124,"id":120,"name":121,"slug":122,"uri":123,"__typename":132},"PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnectionEdge",{"isPrimary":60,"node":164,"__typename":162},{"parentId":138,"id":134,"name":135,"slug":136,"uri":137,"__typename":132},{"isPrimary":60,"node":166,"__typename":162},{"parentId":124,"id":144,"name":94,"slug":95,"uri":145,"__typename":132},{"isPrimary":60,"node":168,"__typename":162},{"parentId":138,"id":151,"name":152,"slug":153,"uri":154,"__typename":132},"PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnection",{"canonical":5,"title":171,"metaDesc":5,"opengraphAuthor":5,"opengraphDescription":172,"opengraphTitle":15,"opengraphUrl":173,"opengraphSiteName":174,"opengraphPublishedTime":175,"opengraphModifiedTime":176,"twitterTitle":5,"twitterDescription":5,"readingTime":177,"metaRobotsNoindex":178,"__typename":179},"Behind the Design: Meet the Man Behind the Props— Kirby Downey - Blog Solidworks","Kirby Downey is known for his 3D printed video game props, and…","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Fbehind-the-design-meet-the-man-behind-the-props-kirby-downey\u002F","Blog Solidworks","2026-01-05T13:00:04+00:00","2026-03-06T13:27:19+00:00",3,"noindex","PostTypeSEO","Post","RootQueryToPostConnection",{},{},1775714665470]