Introduction to Digital Sculpting and 3D Printing

Turn your creative ideas into reality with this fun and hands-on introduction to 3D sculpting and 3D printing. Over eight evening sessions, you will learn step by step how to create a digitally sculpted 3D figure — such as a keyring charm of a character or of yourself — using Blender, a powerful, free 3D creation suite used by artists worldwide to digitally sculpt, animate, render, and more.

Led by professional 3D artist Gabriel Monteiro, whose work ranges from playful characters to detailed digital sculptures, this course is designed for complete beginners. In a relaxed, no-pressure environment, you will explore the core tools and techniques available in Blender, from shaping and refining your model to preparing it for 3D printing.

By the end of this short course, you will have designed your own small figure key fob, ready to be printed using a 3D printing service if you want to. However, for many people the act of designing a 3D digital sculpture is also a fulfilling activity, and it can be useful to help visualise ideas.

This course is perfect for creative individuals and anyone curious about digital art, making, or design. You will gain a solid foundation in 3D creation, as well as practical tips on file preparation for 3D printing.

All welcome!

Equipment needed

The course uses Blender. Being portable, the software can be downloaded either into a folder or onto a storage device (such as a USB stick) ready to be plugged into any laptop or desktop PC ready for use without the need for software installation.

We have PCs available in the classroom. If you prefer bringing your laptop to class please note the system requirements for using Blender as given on their website. At the start of each class, template files will be provided by the tutor to avoid any version conflicts.

Term dates

•  Autumn Term: Wednesdays beginning 21 October 2026 until 16 December 2026 (no class on 18 & 25 November 2026), final session on 6 January 2027

For course content enquiries: Contact the Programme Manager, Dr Michael Paraskos, at m.paraskos@imperial.ac.uk

For enrolment and booking enquiries: Contact Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class recordings

These classes are not recorded.

Imperial certificates

This course has no exams or assessments, so you can focus on enjoying your learning. If you attend regularly, you may also receive an Imperial attendance certificate. (T&Cs apply).