How YouMagine Combines Open Collaboration with Technical Focus – Interview with Chris de Graaf

YouMagine is an online platform dedicated to sharing, organizing, and improving 3D-printable designs. Originally launched by Ultimaker and later integrated into the MyMiniFactory group, the service provides a structured environment for designers and engineers to collaborate on complex, multi-part projects. While it began as a general-purpose repository for 3D models, YouMagine now focuses primarily on the radio-controlled (RC) design community, supporting technically advanced projects with hundreds of STL components.

From a technical perspective, the platform emphasizes version control, file organization, and part categorization rather than hardware integration. Users can manage assemblies, assign metadata, and link related components for easier iteration. The system supports standard file formats such as STL and OBJ and integrates with external slicing workflows.

YouMagine also promotes open licensing through its 3D Printing License (3DPL), which defines clear rules for sharing and remixing digital designs. A merchant program enables qualified makers to produce and sell printed components while maintaining transparent attribution and file ownership.

In practice, YouMagine functions as a collaborative hub for mechanical designers, model builders, and small-scale manufacturers seeking to standardize their workflows and preserve openness in an increasingly commercial 3D printing landscape.

Interview with Chris de Graaf

In this interview with 3Druck.com, YouMagine CCO Chris de Graaf discusses the platform’s evolving focus within the 3D printing ecosystem and its role in supporting open, community-driven design. He also reflects on how YouMagine connects innovation, licensing, and collaboration to strengthen the link between digital creation and practical engineering applications.

YouMagine has always promoted open collaboration in 3D design. As the platform has become more specialized, how do you see this strategic focus contributing to both the sustainability of the platform and the innovation within its community?

When the MyMiniFactory group acquired YouMagine, the goal was to create a platform for the RC community. We had many complex designs on MyMiniFactory that deserved a more tailored environment, where high-quality files are elevated and spotlighted. While the free section of YouMagine still exists, its success is attributed to our amazing community of premium RC creators, drivers, and builders. Radio control designs can consist of several hundred STL files. Offering a platform to organize and categorize the designs and their respective parts has been a great technical challenge. However, just 18 months after launch, we are seeing that spearheading the creation of a hyper-focused platform pays dividends for our creators.

The 3D Printing License (3DPL) was ahead of its time, addressing rights management before it became a mainstream concern. How do you see the 3DPL evolving in an era of AI-generated models and distributed digital manufacturing?

The MyMiniFactory group has always been committed to advocating for the rights of our designers and protecting them to the fullest of our ability. Therefore, we do not allow any IP content unless it is specifically licensed.

In the same spirit of encouraging integrity, we have recently launched SoulCrafted.it. SoulCrafted is an open-source label that indicates the origin of a creation as human, not AI. By having community-powered screening of content, we encourage designers to stay human, reducing the AI slop in which true art can disappear. “Quality over quantity” is our mantra, and we have a strong belief that human creativity must be celebrated and protected at all times.

YouMagine has cultivated a loyal core of technically skilled users over the years. What drives that community today — and how do you plan to empower them in the coming years?

We are currently seeing aspiring mechanical designers and engineers flourish on YouMagine. Having a customer base and community that understands and supports them is a fabulous catalyst for creative growth. We also team designers up, often suggesting collaboration ideas where they didn’t initially think they were possible. One of our German designers, HillPrinties, is a great example of this. His innovative jet pumps for RC boats have found their way into many other boat designs. Furthermore, his boat trailers have inspired some of our car and truck designers to prioritize adapting the scale of their creations to suit HillPrinties’ unique work.

Looking at the broader 3D printing landscape, where do you see YouMagine’s unique contribution — not just as a repository of files, but as a catalyst for engineering creativity and open innovation?

YouMagine has a groundbreaking merchant program, which is an industry first. We keep transactions on-site, thereby ensuring fair and full compensation for the designers. Licensed merchants on YouMagine can send their quotes to customers, with the backend of YouMagine taking care of the rest. We add the cost of all files or check that the customer already owns them before the option to purchase a physical product becomes available. Manufacturing by and for the community has never been this easy and safe. After all, it’s those who have vast experience within the hobby who possess the best knowledge of its requirements and standards. We champion these efforts from our partners, often seeing radical design improvements or additions as a result of building these bridges. It’s amazing to foster and nurture the creative mind.

More details about the YouMagine platform can be found on its official website.