Design Leaders: Ryan Smith of 3form

This article is part of an ongoing profile series spotlighting IIDA industry members.

Meet Ryan Smith, chief creative oﬀicer of 3form.

1. What core values are most important to you as a leader, and how do you ensure they are embedded in the company culture?

For me, the most important values as a leader are creativity, problem solving, and an ownership mindset. That last one is especially important. After founding a couple of companies and helping shape 3form’s brand over the years, I’ve seen how critical it is for people to feel a sense of personal investment in what they do.

I’ve always believed that if you can get genuinely excited about your work — and help others feel that same energy — then great things can happen. That’s especially true in a company like ours, where we’re not just designing products but making them ourselves. Coming from an architectural background, I’ve always found it inspiring to be on the building side of the equation. When people see their ideas move from concept to creation, it brings a kind of pride and clarity that’s hard to match.

We try to create a culture where people are encouraged to think like makers — to be curious, take risks, and care about the details. And when you’re working with materials and products that are truly unique, there’s a lot of joy in that process. The excitement is contagious.

2. Can you share a pivotal moment for you in your career?

One of the most pivotal moments in my career was the chance to work with the artist Dale Chihuly. He had an enormous influence on me — not just creatively, but in how I think about the business of creativity. Working with him taught me that it’s not enough to just have good ideas — you have to believe in them, advocate for them, and push them to become great.

He was relentless in the best way — always aiming higher, always looking for a more compelling solution. That mindset rubbed off on me early. It showed me how far creativity can take you if you treat it with seriousness and conviction.

3. What is the legacy you or 3form hope to leave?

I’ve never thought of legacy as something tied to one person. It’s more about the ripple effects you create through the people you work with and the culture you help build. If I’ve played a small role in helping others feel more inspired, more capable, or more connected to their work, that feels like a meaningful impact.

The legacy I’d hope to be part of is one where people remember the positive experiences — the times they felt encouraged, challenged in a good way, or just excited to make something meaningful. At 3form, that collective energy is what drives us. We’re a company that thrives on collaboration and craft, and I think the legacy we leave is really a shared one — made up of hundreds of moments and people, all pulling in the same direction.

4. What big goal do you have for yourself or 3form in the next three to five years?

One of the most exciting goals we’re working toward at 3form is expanding the role of 3D printing in our product development and manufacturing process. This isn’t just about chasing a trend — it’s about unlocking a powerful intersection of design, technology, and production that can truly transform what we do.

3D printing allows for rapid iteration, fast prototyping, and the ability to create forms and details that would be impossible — or cost-prohibitive — with traditional methods. It makes custom design more accessible, lowers production costs, and dramatically reduces lead times. For a U.S.-based manufacturer like us, that’s a game changer. We can stay nimble and innovative while keeping our operations close to home.

We’ve already started integrating this technology into our lighting division, and the results are incredibly promising. But my goal is to expand this approach across all of our product platforms. I believe every manufacturer should be exploring this — not as a side project, but as a core capability for the future. It’s a tangible, physical technology that enables a whole new level of creative freedom and speed.

Pushing into this space positions 3form not just as a design company, but as a forward-looking manufacturer that's embracing the tools of tomorrow. That’s the kind of future we’re excited to help shape.

5. What’s one big inspiration or passion that you think everyone should know about?

Lately, I’ve rediscovered my passion for art — particularly drawing and painting — and it’s been both grounding and energizing. It’s something that’s always been a part of me. I started creating at a very young age, and that love for making things is what ultimately led me to architecture school. Throughout my career, drawing has remained a thread, even as time and responsibilities made it harder to return to that kind of pure, personal expression.

Recently, I’ve made space for it again. I’ve been taking painting and live figure drawing classes three times a week, and the studio time has been incredibly fulfilling. I’ve filled piles of sketchbooks and created large-scale paintings — mostly centered around vintage cars and motorcycles, which I’ve always loved. In a world where so much of our creative work happens through digital tools, there’s something refreshing about just working with your hands, directly translating your thoughts and observations onto paper or canvas.

It reminds me of a musician who conducts an orchestra but still finds joy — and maybe even a sense of grounding — in playing a single instrument. Drawing is like that for me. It’s timeless, personal, and not tied to outcomes or audiences. It’s simply a pleasure to create. I think of it as creative training in its purest form, not unlike an athlete who trains because they love the movement. And for anyone in a creative field, I believe having that kind of private, sustaining practice is essential. It keeps you connected to why you started in the first place.

Ryan Smith is 3formʼs chief creative oﬀicer, leading 3form, 3form Elements, and LightArtʼs design approach and innovation. He collaborates with teams across the 3form companies to apply his insight to long-term product planning and overall design decisions. He regularly contributes to the company's sustainability mission, strategizing on Align — 3formʼs comprehensive sustainability program focused on the three main pillars of people, product, and planet. He was instrumental in the company receiving a JUST Label, equally prioritizing quality products and employee care. Smith has been part of the design industry for more than 30 years as an architect and business owner, founding and selling two design-focused companies. After studying architecture at the University of Southern California and starting his architectural career with DMJM in Los Angeles, Smith became the architectural department leader for world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. He later launched LightArt.

View All Articles