The Event Planner’s Guide to 3D Printing: Benefits, Uses, and Inspiration 

In live events, every detail matters. You need to deliver experiences that feel fresh, thoughtful, and personalized – without adding complexity or waste. That’s where 3D printing comes in.

At Hargrove, we use 3D printing as part of our in-house fabrication capabilities to help event planners, marketers, and agencies bring bold ideas to life – faster, smarter, and more sustainably.

Inclusive by Design

Whether it’s a single event or part of a broader inclusivity initiative, 3D printing gives us the flexibility to deliver thoughtful, inclusive design at any scale, helping ensure every guest feels welcome, informed, and valued. We can design and print custom braille signage, tactile maps, and other inclusive design elements that look polished, feel intentional, and work seamlessly in your environment.  

A graphic greeting wall welcomes all with tactile signage that included 3D printed raised letters and braille.

Customization Without Limits

3D printing allows for highly detailed, one-of-a-kind pieces that traditional methods can’t always produce. We use it to create everything from unique curved panels for trade show exhibits to sleek housing for custom lighting and speakers for experiential activations. Whether it’s a show floor centerpiece or an immersive brand environment, 3D printing lets us produce high-impact scenic details that enhance the vibe of your space. 

3D printed footballs created texture and interest to elevate a step and repeat into an iconic photo backdrop.

More Agile, Less Waste

Sustainability initiatives matter more than ever and 3D printing helps you meet your goals. Because it’s an additive process, there’s minimal material waste, and many of the materials we use are recyclable. That means better design outcomes with a smaller footprint.

Expanded Event Solutions

In-house 3D printing expands what we can offer, and how quickly we can offer it. Paired with our creative design services and full fabrication capabilities (think carpentry, metal work, scenic painting, graphics, and engineering), 3D printing helps us deliver faster timelines, unique customizations, and more innovative production solutions for you. 

Combining fabrication methods like carpentry, scenic painting, CNC, and 3D printing creates a one-of-a-kind exhibit design that stands out (a giant custom lime green flip flop sculpture helps too.)

Whether you’re planning an inclusive guest experience, looking for a high-impact scenic moment, or need a fast, flexible solution to a creative challenge, 3D printing opens a new world of possibilities in event design and production.