We recently connected with Tho Tran and have shared our conversation below.

Tho, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been fascinated by drawing on paper. It was my passion. As I grew older, I was fortunate enough to hold onto that passion. Later, when I first encountered a computer, I started exploring Photoshop. I was thrilled by the possibility of drawing on a digital platform—it was an entirely new concept compared to drawing on paper.

When it came time to choose a major for university, I found the options rather vague at the time. However, I decided to pursue something related to drawing. I thought to myself, “If I was born with a love for drawing, surely a career that allows me to utilize that skill would suit me in the future.” That’s when I chose to study 3D design. It was around the time when the 3D animated movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children from Japan was making waves. That movie was absolutely stunning—it captivated me, and I watched it repeatedly. It became one of the major reasons I decided to pursue a career in 3D.

After graduation, I had the incredible opportunity to work in the 3D game industry. I spent over 10 years immersed in the world of 3D gaming. When 3D printing technology began to become more accessible, with machines that anyone could buy and use to print 3D designs, I thought, “Oh, this is amazing!” Imagine being able to bring your designs to life—not just seeing them on a screen, but holding them in your hands. Isn’t that incredible? Haha!

That’s when I had the idea of starting a small design shop specializing in 3D designs inspired by characters people love (and of course, ones I love too—Haha). After designing a few cosplay masks, I realized how much I enjoyed creating them. Wearing the masks, I found they suited me perfectly—perhaps because I’m quite shy about showing my face on social media—Haha.

Over the years, I never imagined I would still be so passionate about 3D printing. But here I am, loving it more and dedicating myself to it more deeply every day.

I really love it!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m from Vietnam, and I’ve been passionate about art since childhood. Growing up, I pursued a career in 3D design within the 3D gaming industry as a 3D artist. It was during this time that I stumbled upon the world of 3D printing when the technology was still relatively new. Intrigued, I purchased an affordable 3D printer to experiment with my designs. It was an amazing experience, and it sparked the idea to dedicate more time to this field.

Currently, I focus on creating designs for cosplay accessories, particularly masks, catering to cosplay enthusiasts or anyone who simply enjoys wearing or decorating with them. My designs are made to be 3D-print-friendly—you just need a 3D printer, which has become increasingly accessible nowadays, with a wide range of price options.

I take pride in the level of detail in my designs. My goal is to create aesthetically pleasing and high-quality 3D models that are easy for people to print. Whether you own a large or small 3D printer, I provide different versions of my designs to suit various printer sizes, ensuring flexibility and ease of use for everyone.

If you ever encounter any issues or have questions, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram at @3dprintmodelstore or via my email “3dprintart.design@gmail.com”. I’m always happy to assist!

And if you love my designs you can check out my patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/3DPrintArt
By becoming a member you can get some cool perks from me. I’m still just getting started with it and will add more perks to my membership in the future. Hope you will support it!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the best thing about being a creator is that you can design anything you like, in any way you want. And you can bring those exciting creations to people all around the world, introducing them to others who share the same interests as you, or simply to those who appreciate your work.
I’m really happy about that. Becoming a creator is truly a blessing for me.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Honestly, I’m not a great marketer. I’m simply a creator. I don’t have any special strategy; as you can see, my follower count is quite small, but it’s quality over quantity. I don’t think you need to worry too much if you don’t know how to build your brand. All you need to do is simply show people what you have, and if they like it, they’ll follow you. That’s my approach—slow and steady. I believe the most important thing is to keep improving your designs. That’s the key.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/3dprintmodelstore
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3dprintmodelstore/
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/3DPrintArt

Image Credits

The images I took myself