College student creates head-turning Star Wars-inspired fan helmets

Forging a passion for Star Wars, sports fandom and the indescribable satisfaction that comes with making cool things, a Canton college student has launched a one-man business that is turning heads throughout southeast Michigan and beyond.

Jonah Radwanski, a junior-to-be at Michigan State University, is the founder of JKR 3D Prints, which creates, among other things, Star Wars stormtrooper-shaped helmets that he meticulously transforms into displays/headgear for college and professional sports fans.

Among Radwanski’s eye-popping early creations — you can check out some of them on his Instagram page — are Detroit Lions, Michigan State University and University of Michigan stormtrooper helmets.

While wearing his MSU stormtrooper helmet during an MSU football game last fall, Radwanski was shown on the Spartan Stadium Jumbotron.

“People think they’re really cool,” said Radwanski, who graduated from Canton High School in 2022. “The first thing people ask me is how they can get one. Once I tell them I make them in my home, I’ll collaborate with them on what kind of design and logo they’d want.”

Wide variety of offerings

In addition to stormtrooper-shaped helmets, Radwanski makes Spiderman-, Ironman- and Darth Vader-themed headgear/displays — and college sports-themed wall-hangings that are enhanced by LED back-lighting.

While the need for a mini-factory may be down the road given the items’ cool factor, Radwanski currently manufacturers all of his slick products in the comfort of his own home with the help of three 3D printers that have transformed — temporarily, at least — the family’s dining room table into a production zone.

In the wake of a lot of practice, Radwanski can program the high-tech printers to crank out helmets or wall-hangings in mere minutes.

“Depending on the item, though, it can take three to five days for the actual printing,” he revealed.

Inspired by trip to Disney World

The idea for JKR (Radwanski’s initials) 3D Prints was hatched while the life-long Star Wars fan was visiting Walt Disney World with his aunt and uncle.

“We purchased our first 3D printer during the beginning of COVID, but we didn’t do too much with it,” he reflected. “In December of 2022, on a trip to Disney with my aunt and uncle, I visited a Star Wars store, I saw the prices of the helmets in the shop and thought, ‘I have a 3D printer. I can make these,’ he reflected.

“Once I returned home, I watched a YouTube video to learn how to do the programming. I grabbed my 3D printer and went to work.”

And an entrepreneur was born — not in a galaxy far, far away, but in the confines of his own basement.

With the financial assistance from relatives, Radwanski has since acquired two bigger and more-sophisticated 3D printers.

“The funny thing is, the bigger and better printers actually cost less than the first one because of how advanced technology has become since 2020,” he added.

Radwanski’s first wave of customers love his products.

“One of my friends liked the Ironman helmet so much — it was customized with a purple face to match his car and the eyes had LED lights,” Radwanski quipped, “that he said he rarely took it off the first few days he had it. He said he even wore it in the shower.”

Radwanski has added a pursuit of a business-related degree to his initial Kinesiology degree in case the 3D-printing business takes off like Hans Solo’s Millennium Falcon.

“It’d be cool to be able to make this a career because I love doing it so much, but who knows?,” he said.

Radwanski’s creations are reasonably priced. The helmets range in cost from $80 to $120 while the LED wall-hangings from from $50 to $60.

To place an order, visit his Instagram page and send him an email via the address that is included at the top of the page.

Given his ambition, work ethic and ingenuity, may the force be with Jonah Radwanski on his journey into entrepreneurship.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.