My name is Daniel Contreras Torua. I'm an architect and passionate about design. I design articulated creatures and other products. I really enjoy traveling and seeing architecture; here's a photo of me during Design Week 2025.

My foray into the world of 3D printing began four years ago. Initially, I used modeling programs I was already familiar with from my studies. I remember creating the first articulated dragons in SketchUp. Looking back, I know it might not have been the most suitable software for organic figures, but my desire to learn overcame any limitations.

I created these initial articulated designs in SketchUp, drawing line by line to close the polygons.

This sparked my curiosity to learn about the ideal programs for this type of design. I discovered ZBrush and Blender for 3D sculpting, so I started taking courses. Within a few months, I was creating one of my most cherished designs: the articulated Dragon 001. My wife named him Flippy, and if you were wondering, that's his name!

I remember that one of the first renders of Flippy, modeled in ZBrush, took me a long time and a lot of coffee. I learned a tremendous amount trying to understand how to generate rotational repetitions with reducing scales.

And so it is today

I decided to put the model up for sale, which gradually began to generate income. Later, I created new variations, always maintaining the same quality and aesthetic. A recurring question is why the hind legs are positioned backward; this design choice was made to represent the dragon in a resting posture, somewhat resembling a dog at rest.

This design was the starting point of an incredible journey: I received messages, participated in contests, and gained the opportunity to dedicate myself to 3D modeling as my main source of income. Over time, new 3D printers arrived at the studio, giving rise to TORUA3D Studio.

Among our most popular models is the articulated snake 003, winner of the PRINT IN PLACE contest organized by Creality Cloud earlier this year.

In 2023, Torua3D was recognized as one of the top 100 designers.

I'm incredibly excited about everything that can be achieved with 3D printing, and I'm sure we'll continue creating, as design is my passion.

Finally, on my 3D models profile, you can find one of our most popular designs completely free of charge (FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY): the 008 dragon with wings. This is an exclusive design created for this top 100 designers event.

If you download it and like it, I invite you to vote for the top 100 designers.

Best of luck with your printing!