NICK HOLLISTER.
Industrial Designer

Education
Purdue University
BFA in Industrial Design
Minor in The Russian Language

Experience
Industrial Designer - Hasbro
Industrial Design Intern - ICM Design
Research Analyst - Balkans investment Consulting Agency

Me
I’m a designer who’s driven by curiosity, exploration, and the process of turning ideas into something real.

I believe the strongest work comes from close cross-functional collaboration. I thrive working in person; whiteboards, quick mockups, and side conversations.

Outside of design, I’m a long-distance runner. Endurance training has shaped how I work: consistent, resilient, and comfortable staying with a challenge long enough to see progress. 

Thanks for taking the time to explore my work.

Email
Resume
Linkedin

Work

1. Nerf _ Roleplay
2. Nerf _ Licensed
   
3. AEC Design Competition _ E Bike Storage
   
4. Sketchbook _ Ideation & Exploration
   
5. Maps _ 3D Prints & Studies
   
6. Metalwork _ Project Sampling
   

Index

Maps_ 3D Prints & Studies
Personal
Visual Communication + 3D Printing

4 years
2022 - 2026


LiDAR Relief Maps
During the pandemic, I developed a deep interest in LiDAR and 3D data processing. Using open-source aerial LiDAR scans, I process raw point cloud data through custom Python workflows, refine the terrain geometry, and translate real-world landscapes into physical 3D-printed relief maps.

These are not stylized interpretations but exact physical replicas of real cities and landscapes, derived from high-fidelity aerial surveys detailed enough to capture individual buildings, and even cars moving down the street when viewed at full resolution.

The project gained significant online traction and was featured by The San Francisco Standard.

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LiDAR Point Clouds
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) uses airborne laser scanning to capture precise measurements of the Earth’s surface. I source open-access aerial survey data in the form of raw point clouds; millions of spatial coordinates representing real-world terrain, buildings, and infrastructure.

These datasets are exact digital recordings of physical landscapes, captured with remarkable fidelity.
From Point Cloud to Mesh
To translate raw scan data into printable geometry, I clean and process the point clouds using LAStools developed by Dr. Martin Isenburg, along with a modified open-source Python workflow originally written by Andrew Godwin.

After generating terrain meshes, I refine and segment them in Blender, preparing the models as modular tiles optimized for scale, detail, and printability. This stage bridges geospatial data and physical fabrication.

Physical Fabrication
Each terrain tile is printed on a heavily modified Ender 3 Pro, calibrated for high-resolution topographic detail.

Individual prints can take up to 24 hours to complete, translating millions of captured data points into tactile relief surfaces.

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Nick Hollister.com