Simona, a mechanical engineer and the creative force behind SIMIU — a 3D home decor brand we adore — has recently expanded her creative footprint with POODLE3D. This new venture features a thoughtfully designed, family-created collection ranging from practical accessories to playful pieces like dog treat toys and brain games. Inspired by her two poodles, Dusty and Kali, POODLE3D captures the perfect blend of functionality and charm.

Simona took time to share with Thangs a little bit more about what inspired her new line and her process for creating it.

Thangs: What inspired POODLE3D?

POODLE3D: Our inspiration comes from our family’s two poodles, Dusty and Kali. They are the heart and soul of POODLE3D, and are always nearby, either directing (Dusty) or stealing the spotlight (Kali). Dusty is calm and thoughtful, while Kali is playful and full of energy. Together, they remind us every day of the reasons behind starting this project.

Our aim was to create products that every dog lover can enjoy, whether for everyday use or simply to celebrate the joy that dogs bring to our lives.

Thangs: Was there a specific story, challenge, or moment that inspired this project?

POODLE3D: It started as a true family project: Simona, the creative mind behind the SIMIU brand, brought her love of clean, functional shapes to the project. After years in PR and the corporate world, Daniela wanted to focus on something more personal and creative — something that felt warm and family-driven. She gives the project structure, keeps everything organized, and somehow manages to hold all the pieces together.

Ivo is the technical brain. He saves every failing print, tinkers until things work and always finds a way to fix things when everyone else has given up. Together, we combine creativity and practicality with a passion for dogs.

In working together, we realized that we had found something that connected us all: a blend of creativity, noise, and poodle curl in every project.

Thangs: How does POODLE3D connect to your overall design style or your previous work?

POODLE3D: A blend of creativity and engineering ensures our style remains modern, playful and practical. While POODLE3D has its own identity, Simona’s design roots are still evident in the minimalist shapes, gentle curves, and thoughtful functionality. Ivo’s technical precision ensures the products are reliable, and Daniela brings everything together, turning ideas into real, working designs.

Thangs: Did you face any challenges when bringing these designs to life?

POODLE3D: Plenty. For example, Ivo had to learn 3D modelling from scratch, but he picked it up quickly and now creates some of our most popular designs. As he still works full-time, he does most of his designing late at night, usually surrounded by printers, coffee, and two curious poodles.

Even though Simona lives in Austria and the rest of us are in the Czech Republic, remote collaboration works really well. When we meet in person, we make sure that it’s more about family than work.

Working with our dogs is a whole other challenge. Some days they’re natural models; other days, they have their own creative ideas. In fact, Kali loves stealing the tiny bits of filament that fall during printer unloads. We have to keep an eye on him or he’ll ‘help’ by cleaning up! We think he just wants more filming time and extra food! Whatever the challenge, treats usually solve it.

Thangs: How long did the design and prototyping process take?

POODLE3D: It largely depends on the product. Some designs come together in a day; others take weeks. We spent about a month preparing our first collection, and we now have several months of new releases planned. Sometimes everything goes smoothly, but other times it turns into a long-term relationship between the printer and a very patient designer.

Thangs: Do you have recommended settings or print tips for those printing POODLE3D designs?

POODLE3D: Our philosophy is simple: when the design is good, it should print beautifully without any annoying or painful setup. We always design with that in mind. Our go-to infill is gyroid — it provides excellent stability and strength in all directions and never lets us down.

Thangs: What is your favorite 3D printing or designing tool you can’t live without?

POODLE3D: Our best tool? Probably the family group chat. That’s where all the ideas, failures and late-night breakthroughs happen. But really, it’s the printers. They’ve replaced the TV — the family now watches prints coming to life instead of shows. They’ve seen every experiment and wild idea, so at this point, they’re practically family members — the noisy kind that keep you up at night!

Thangs: Are there any hidden details in the design that you would like to share?

POODLE3D: If you look closely at some of our models, you might find a tiny paw silhouette. It’s our little signature — a quiet reminder of where our inspiration comes from.

Thangs: How do you hope the community will use, remix, or engage with your work?

POODLE3D: We hope that our designs will help people to connect with the things they love, such as their dogs, their creativity, and the joy of making things themselves. If our work inspires someone to see 3D printing as a personal and enjoyable activity, then we will consider that a success.

Thangs: Who are other designers on Thangs that you look up to?

POODLE3D: We admire Lofted Goods for their minimalist approach, ForgeCore for the clever surprises hidden in every design, elleSTVDIO for combining the two, and RuvenBals for his smart mechanisms that never fail to surprise us.

Thangs: What’s next for POODLE3D?

POODLE3D: We’re excited about what’s yet to come and about turning our ideas into reality.

We’re working on a new mechanism that delivers treats to dogs in a fun, interactive way. Dusty and Kali have already given it their full approval, mostly because they think it’s a snack machine made just for them!

Check out POODLE3D on Thangs, or follow them on Instagram or Facebook.