THE BESPOKE OBJECT REVISITED - FINAL !

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During this final week, I was finally able to print my ball-jointed doll and see all the design adjustments come together in its assembled form!

Final BJD !

This doll is designed as a customizable base figure for artists, collectors, and hobbyists who are interested in creating their own characters. Many people are drawn to character design and custom doll-making but may not have the time, tools, or sculpting experience to start from scratch. This product offers a convenient, ready-to-modify foundation that users can personalize by painting, accessorizing, and adjusting to suit their vision.

In terms of mass production, I would shift from 3D printing to injection molding, which is the most efficient method for producing hollow plastic parts at scale. Each part of the doll- arms, legs, torso, head- would be engineered as a two-part mold, enabling hollow construction while preserving the form and joint integrity.

Once the molds are complete, the dolls could be produced as DIY kits, allowing buyers to string and assemble them on their own. This not only keeps production costs lower but also caters to collectors who enjoy the hands-on customization process. For smaller-scale or custom runs, an option to 3D print the doll directly could also be available!

Model changes: Arm jointed added, Rounded joints change and Head Scale increased

For the actual doll, things didn’t go exactly as planned- since the 3D printer was so busy, I had requested my print early, but I didn’t end up receiving it until Friday. Unfortunately, when it arrived, I noticed several issues with the print.

One of the major problems was with the upper arm, which I had redesigned as a two-piece component. The pieces printed slightly warped and didn’t fit together properly, so I couldn’t include them in my updated design. Additionally, even with the reprint, the arm wasn’t perfectly cylindrical. This caused awkward angles when rotating the joint, which disrupted the symmetry of the doll. If I had more time, I would focus on smoothing out that shape so it moves more naturally and looks more cohesive. Alternatively, I might remove the two-piece upper arm design and instead refine the elbow joint itself for better articulation which sounds like a better solution.

Another unexpected issue was that the reprints came out a bit smaller than the original, even though I didn’t change the scale in my file. Because of that, some parts didn’t fit right, so I couldn’t swap out as many pieces as I planned. On the bright side, rounding out the sharp and flimsy edges, like Bryan suggested, really helped. Even though the final print wasn’t perfect, that change made a big difference in how the doll looked and felt.

S-Hook and magnets adjusted

One area I’d still like to improve is the head size. Although I upscaled it slightly in this version, it still feels undersized for the aesthetic I’m aiming for. I think enlarging it further would help reinforce the look and proportions typical of jointed dolls. Luckily, with the size increase I did make, I was able to pull the S-hook all the way into the head, which now lets the head move properly! Unfortunately, I did also accidentally break the head cap. I reassembled it with glue so that it could still be viewed, but that’s definitely something to remake.

On a brighter note, one of the more successful adjustments was the redesign of the magnet holders inside the head cap. I deepened the cavities slightly, which allowed the magnets to fit more securely. I would probably make them even deeper in the future to minimize sanding and ensure a stronger hold.

Overall, despite the challenges, this gave me more valuable insight into how the doll performs both aesthetically and functionally. I now have a much clearer idea of what needs to be refined for a finalized version, and I’m excited about the direction it’s heading although I wasn't able to complete it for this final.