In support of their range of Lumia 820 smartphones Nokia has announced a 3D printing development kit (3DK). The data contained in the kit (available here, after registering with Nokia) will allow 3D printing enthusiasts to print their own casing for the handset. Community manager John Kneeland indicated that Nokias support will also include case specifications, recommended materials and best practices, amounting to a thorough endorsement of 3D printing by the Finnish phone company.

Grassroot 3D printing enthusiasts have been working away on bespoke smartphone casings for some time now. But Nokia are the first manufacturer to explicitly welcome the DIY fabricators into the fold. As well as engaging the early adopters of 3D printing Nokia are also making the process far more accessible to the lay user, a move that has gained approval from many technology pundits.

Once upon a time, Nokia ruled the mobile roost, and customisable handsets were as popular as Myspace html chimeras and bespoke geocities. Given that Dial-Up Design aesthetics are in the ascendancy perhaps it was only a matter of time before Nokia focused on the customisability inherent to the maker movement.