Designers have welcomed the 3D printing process with open arms and the world is captivated by its everyday potential. It has permeated our lingo thanks to news on 3D printed guns and Obama visiting the 3D printed canal house exhibit in Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum. People have even gone so far as buying personal printers for their homes but what has really been done with this trendy technology?
Staples to Launch 3D Printing Service
If acquiring a personal 3D printer is cost prohibitive, then why not take it to a local print shop? Staples locations in Belgium and the Netherlands are now offering this service to customers, making it more available to the masses for the non-committal type to easily access, use and experiment with the machines.
Out of Hand at MAD
The MAD Museum in New York has embraced the 3D printing revolution with their exhibition Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital, offering lectures and workshops on all aspects of the topic throughout the duration of the show, which is taking place until 1 June 2014.
Q&A with Jan Habraken
In the "Chairgenics" experiment, FormNation used digital programs to cross multiple designs of popular chairs into one object. The breeding process led to a layered result, requiring a complex construction. 3D printing was selected for its affordability over CNC milling. See full-scale models of this project as part of Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital exhibition.
Mycelium Chair by Eric Klarenbeek
A vegetal material found in fungus merged with bioplastic served as the material for a structurally-sound, living chair. If your design taste changes, just toss it in the garden compost.
Studies in Recursive Lattices by EZCT Architecture & Design Research
Parisian studio founded by Philippe Morel, Felix Agid and Jelle Feringa are working to innovate the process associated with the globally accessible material of concrete by injecting biologically-inspired structures. Intricate sand moulds intended to hold ultra-high fibre-reinforced concrete were 3D printed for prototype explorations.
12 Shoes for 12 Lovers by Sebastian Errazuriz
Sebastian Errazuriz has had a string of unhappy relationships, well at least twelve based on this collection of shoes which evoke the personalities of each lucky lady. Cry Baby, Golddigger, Heart Breaker and Hot Bitch showcased the ability to get creative and customize personal effects with a home 3D printer and plastic filament as ink.
Soundshapes by Ricky van Broekhoven
Featured during Dutch Design Week 2013, a set of acoustical speakers merged a passion for music with design. First, experimental drawings created by the movement of sand granules due to the frequency of high and low-pitched musical sounds were translated into three dimensional constructions. Computer renderings were produced and then printed into a prototype for further analysis. The final result was hand cut MDF layers which allowed sound to permeate from the speaker easier.
Milan: Final Days
Supermodels, a travelling exhibition of 3D printed models debuted at Ventura Lambrate during the 2014 edition of Milan Design Week. The wide range of successful work produced by Dutch architects and designers were printed in a consistent white material.
Best of 3D Printing
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