OUR WORK
We design and build custom props, installations and practical effects for commercial spaces, events, exhibitions and productions. We're a small team based in Vantaa, Finland, with a broad range of experience. Below are the people behind the work and some of the projects we've built.
THE TEAM
MARIETTA
Concept design • 3D modelling & sculpting • mould making • casting • scenic finishing • painting • graphic design
FLORIAN
Fabrication • Electronics • Mechanics • Animatronics •
Prop & Set building • 3D printing
CASE STUDIES
CASE STUDY:
DRAGON FOR PUOLENKUUN PELIT
Puolenkuun Pelit has been part of Finland's gaming and pop culture scene since 1997, with several stores across the country. At the end of 2025, they opened their expansive new flagship store on Keskuskatu, one of Helsinki's most prominent shopping streets, right in the center of the city.
The flagship combines a huge selection of games and pop culture with the Halfmoon Game Cafe, which is quickly becoming a hub for Helsinki's nerd culture.
With such a prominent new location, Puolenkuun Pelit wanted the interior to have its own character and a memorable centerpiece. Maker & Shaper Props was commissioned to create a life-size version of the dragon from the Puolenkuun Pelit logo. The build gave their familiar dragon a physical presence inside the new flagship store.
Visible from the store, the dragon draws visitors towards the Halfmoon Game Cafe with glowing eyes and a smoke-breathing effect. The dragon was meant to be large, massive and impossible to miss, but not frightening, so that even the smallest visitors can feel comfortable around the creature. We sculpted the dragon to match the brand style, gave it a friendly expression and based its colour palette on Puolenkuun Pelit's brand colours.
The dragon was designed specifically for its location as a permanent installation. The narrow passageway meant that we had to use as little floor space as possible without sacrificing the creature’s size and impact. We designed and sculpted the dragon in 3D to fit precisely around an existing pillar and used the pillar itself as part of the prop’s perceived mass. The body was then 3D printed in sections and assembled around the pillar. It curves around the structure like a shell, so the prop is actually much thinner and lighter than it first appears. We continued the illusion with a rock formation beneath the creature that blends into the surrounding wall.
Safety and durability were a priority from the start. We reinforced the sculpture with metal rods, fiberglassed them into the structure and anchored them deep into the concrete. Installations in unusual spaces often require custom solutions, and we design both the sculpture and its mounting system for the exact location.
The dragon was installed in time for the flagship opening in December 2025. Since then, it has become a popular photo spot and one of the most recognizable features of the Halfmoon Game Cafe.
Client: Puolenkuun Pelit
Location: Keskuskatu 3 A, Helsinki, Finland
Completed: December 2025
Production time: 4 months
Dimensions: 240 cm x 120 cm x 93 cm
Scope: 3D design & sculpting, fabrication, 3D printing, scenic finishing, practical effects & installation
Materials: PLA, fiberglass, steel