Hey, I'm Savvas. A Mechanical Engineer and Product Designer from Cyprus who is currently studying Product Development at Chalmers in Gothenburg. I design and 3D-print physical products and photograph on film and digital. Here you can find both my engineering projects and photography portofolio.
A variety of technical projects and designs from my academic and personal work.
A collection of photos taken on film and digital, organised into albums and themes.
I'm a Mechanical Engineer from Cyprus, currently studying Product Development at Chalmers in Gothenburg.
I've been curious for as long as I can remember, always taking apart broken things and giving them a second life. Old roller blades wheels became a camera dolly, an LED strip turned into a light-painting brush, discarded aluminum curtain rods became a shoe stand. That instinct to tinker eventually merged with my other passion, photography, and I started looking for ways to combine the two into useful products.
That search led me to buy my first 3D printer in 2020, and I haven't stopped designing and manufacturing since. Over time this grew into products like the Snapcase system, Snap Frames, battery organization tools, and f ilm-scanning setups which all have been shared online and have been downloaded for free by thousands of people worldwide.
My approach to design is organized and modular. I care about customizability, using materials for their inherent properties, solving the actual problem at hand, and keeping things cost-effective. More than anything I am eager to explore new territory even when I'm not good at it yet, which you can see from the various types of projects and my photograpy portofolio. I've learned that with enough time and effort, almost anything is achievable.
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A multidisciplinary programme centered on designing products across their full life cycle, from user needs to sustainability and manufacturing. The core of the programme is a real industrial project run in partnership with a company, complemented by coursework in innovation, business developmen and design.
An ETEK-accredited programme that pairs strong theoretical foundations in mathematics and physics with hands-on engineering design, building skills in CAD, thermodynamics, mechanics of materials, and manufacturing processes. With a specialization in materials science and a two-part design thesis that provides practical experience from the concept phase to a final prototype through detailed a technical execution.
Research, Design and Development of DIY projects using Engino parts with FDM and Laser Cutting Technologies.
Designing custom porduct solutions suitable for Additive Manufacturing.
For work, collaborations, or just to talk cameras, the fastest way to reach me is below.
An everyday object reimagined for 3D printing.
A modular case to protect and organise both 35mm and 120 film.
Printable camera accessories published online with real downloads.
A team project from the master's — name it and summarise in a line.
A coursework project — describe the brief and what you designed.
When moving into my apartment, I was keen on designing a napkin holder that could serve as a statement piece while also standing out functionally from what is currently available on the market. Most commercial napkin holders are simple objects with a fixed cavity where napkins are placed inside. The issue I noticed is that when the number of napkins decreases, they lose their shape and no longer sit upright, which affects the overall look. I wanted to design a napkin holder that would keep the napkins upright and maintain its aesthetic appearance regardless of how many napkins remain. To achieve this, I designed an adjustable cavity whose width adapts to the number of napkins inside.
The napkin holder consists of three individually printed parts that are assembled into a single unified product. The two main body parts (Body A) and (Body B) are connected by inserting a section of Body A into Body B, and are held in place by a 3D printed spring fitted between them. The holder was designed so that when fully loaded with napkins, the spring is fully compressed, pushing the two inner walls to their maximum width. As napkins are removed, the spring gradually decompresses and returns to its initial state, reducing the width between the walls accordingly. This mechanism ensures the napkins are always held firmly upright regardless of how many remain.
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After producing the first 3D printed prototype, I identified two key issues with the design. The first was that the amount of material required exceeded the expected manufacturing cost. The second was that the force applied by the spring made it difficult to remove individual napkins without the entire stack falling out. To address these issues, the next iteration will reduce the overall height of the napkin holder and narrow the width of the spring, reducing the force it applies when fully compressed. This will make it easier to remove napkins individually while still keeping them held upright.
After implementing the changes and printing the second prototype, new issues emerged while the previous ones remained unresolved. The reduced wall height caused the napkins to fold outwards rather than stand upright, reintroducing the very problem the design was meant to solve. Additionally, the spring tension had been reduced too significantly, making the force it applied negligible and failing to grip the napkins adequately. These setbacks led to a change in approach for how the napkins would be stored. To address both the material usage and the difficulty of removing individual napkins, I decided to store the napkins folded in half, effectively halving their height and making them easier to remove. The spring thickness was also restored to its original dimensions to ensure adequate tension.
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With the final changes in place, a balance was achieved between adequate spring tension and the ease of removing napkins individually. With the core functionality now settled, I was able to shift focus to the overall form factor of the product and begin exploring different design variations and concepts.
After the time spent developing the various iterations of this product, I decided to discontinue its development. While the concept was promising and the use of a 3D printed spring was a novel approach, the functionality ultimately fell short of existing solutions. If a product does not meaningfully improve upon what is already available, fails to differentiate itself, and does not make economic sense, there is little justification to develop it further. I do not view this as a failure, but rather as a reminder that not every project results in a final product. In hindsight, I should not have invested time in creating multiple design variations before the core functionality had been refined to a satisfactory level. The product does have potential, but the time and effort required to realize it would not be proportionally rewarded.
As an analog photography enthusiast, I wanted a secure and stylish way to carry my films while protecting them from UV light. The cases available on the market were either impractical, expensive, or limited to storing a single film format, so I decided to make one myself. I envisioned a case that could adapt to different photography needs, allowing you to carry both film formats simultaneously or a larger quantity of a single format. Since the two film formats differ in dimensions, a standardized module size was needed to accommodate both.This could allow for the creation of a modular system where the user could choose the number and type of modules to carry, depending on their needs. Below you will find the design process and the various design decisions that ultimately resulted in a product now published on an open-source platform for anyone to freely download and 3D print.
After extensive testing, I settled on a module capable of holding three 35mm films or two 120 format films. The development began with versions 1 and 1.1, which were used to test and determine the optimal inner cavity diameter for a secure fit for an individual film. Once the dimensions were confirmed, version 1.2 focused on simplifying the design to improve print quality.In version 2, I squared the corners of the module, which allowed for better volume optimization when accommodating the 120 format films and opened up more possibilities for unique case designs. Moving forward with version 2, I developed two modules that share the exact same outer dimensions of 88 x 30 mm. While the height of each module differs, when either film format is inserted, both reach the same total height of 56 mm.
For the first version of the case, I aimed for a simple and clean design that could be scaled to any size. This was achieved by implementing parametric equations in the CAD software, initially SolidWorks, with the external dimensions and tolerances set as constants. By simply adjusting the number of rows and columns of modules, different case sizes could be generated effortlessly. The case consists of two parts, a bottom section and a sliding top cover. The cover slides on from the top and is secured in place by small custom-designed indents on the cover that lock onto corresponding protrusions on the bottom part, ensuring a secure fit.
The sliding securing mechanism between the cover and the bottom part had a tolerance issue that allowed the top cover to be pushed all the way down when no films were inserted, making it impossible to separate the two parts afterwards. To resolve this, I replaced the sliding mechanism with magnets embedded in the top surfaces of both parts, allowing them to connect securely with minimal effort while remaining easy to separate. Additionally, following feedback from potential users, I decided to narrow the range down to just four case sizes. This not only saved time in the design process, freeing me to focus on creating more varied designs but also addressed a practical concern, as larger cases would have been cumbersome to carry, defeating the core purpose of the product.
As mentioned, magnets were introduced in the second version of the cases. They are fitted along the two edges of the top surfaces of both parts, using 5mm x 3mm magnets that provide a size-to-magnetic force ratio strong enough to keep the lid securely closed while still allowing it to be opened with one hand. The four final case sizes that resulted from this development were released on the MakerWorld platform for the public to freely download and print.
Feedback from people who downloaded and printed various versions of the case provided valuable insights that led me to reconsider the design and develop an update. Download statistics showed that the 1x1 and 2x1 cases were by far the most popular, as their slimmer form factor made them easier to carry in backpacks and camera bags. The magnet system also introduced two additional drawbacks. First, inconsistencies in magnet quality and strength between different suppliers meant that some users reported their case lids opening unintentionally during use. Second, dimensional inconsistencies in the magnets themselves caused fitment issues, with some magnets being too loose and others too tight for the pre-designed cavities. Furthermore, the added cost of sourcing magnets, which are typically sold in large quantities made the product less accessible, as many users were unlikely to purchase them solely for this project.
To eliminate the need for additional materials, I returned to a snap-fit mechanism to secure the two parts together. Through multiple iterations of the indent and protrusion design, I arrived at a solution that provides a secure connection while still allowing the two parts to be separated without excessive force. The updated design also features thicker walls on both parts, eliminating the bending issues encountered previously.With the securing mechanism finalized, I shifted focus to developing various aesthetic styles for the case. The designs were optimized to print without supports, and select models incorporate a 'fuzzy skin' finish, adding texture to the outer surface for improved grip.
This project took longer than anticipated, largely due to rushing the prototyping process without sufficiently refining the core design first. Time was spent creating variations and different sizes before a fully functional prototype had been properly established, meaning later iterations were built upon a flawed foundation and required additional rework that could have been avoided. Front-loading the design refinement would have significantly reduced the time lost in the later stages of development. In terms of the product itself, it successfully achieves its goal of protecting films from UV light while offering an aesthetically pleasing way to carry them. The main trade-off is the added bulk, which may make it unnecessary in situations where a simpler solution would suffice. Nonetheless, the product has found considerable success, accumulating over 1,500 combined prints across all case variations and up to 600 prints of the individual modules.
A set of printable camera accessories you've published. Add the download count or feedback — proof people use your designs. Link the MakerWorld page in the Video/links area.
Name the project and describe the brief, your contribution, the method, and the outcome. Academic projects are a great place to show process and teamwork.
Describe the brief, the constraints, your CAD approach, any calculations or FEA, and the result.
There's nothing quite like the Greek Islands in summer. The deep color of the sky, the calm of the refreshing sea. The architecture, the food, and the people all make me slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. Greece is one of my favorite places to visit, and it shows in these photos. I'm especially drawn to the Greek Orthodox churches, from small whitewashed chapels tucked in remote areas to the larger ones at the center of a village where everyone gathers. Oh, and cows!
In the summer of 2023, I purchased roughly 40 expired black-and-white films for a bargain price from a former Reuters journalist. To my surprise, when I developed one of the films, I couldn't differentiate the frames on the negative. The film I shot during my 8-week summer job on the ships had been double-exposed onto photos the photographer had already taken. The result is a contrast between family photos and life at sea, layered with images of a pig being slaughtered in a rural area in an unknown location. This accident created some of my favorite work yet. Mistakes can be beautiful.
Every summer for work, I had the opportunity to work as a sales advisor on Irish Ferries, on contracts that lasted up to 8 weeks. I set myself the challenge of photographing life at sea, restricting myself to shooting the same objects across different film stocks, perspectives, and weather conditions. It was a fun challenge, and the use of some expired films added a nice touch to some of the photos. Photos are from 2022–2024.
While working on the ships, I had the chance to explore new places. Here are some photos from Holyhead, Wales, and the South Stack Lighthouse, along with a few from the streets of Dublin and from Glendalough, a glacial valley in Wicklow with early monastic ruins and quiet lakes.
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A line about your street work.
Where this set was made.
Astrophotography for me is all about slowing down and having each shot planned before I even get to the location, from scouting for light pollution, finding a good foreground to photograph, and working out all the settings needed to actually shoot the Milky Way. There's something special about that process. Most of the time you're just standing there looking at the sky while the camera does it's job.