Challenges

It may seem a little early, but being early can’t hurt, right? Remember last year’s shipping nightmare? Yeah, we thought so. Let’s take the hassle out of this year’s Christmas shopping and start thinking about the perfect gift for your friend, your loved one, your home or pet. We have a little surprise this time that will keep you on track and motivated!

Having joined forces with the 3D printing experts from i.materialise, we are thrilled to present you the i.materialise Holiday challenge that has two distinct categories – silver and ceramics.

3D print models are here to make the Christmas shopping a tad more special with the customization and bespoke design options. It’s time that we move away from gift vouchers and ginger cookies to high-quality, beautiful presents that have the power to dazzle or bring back personal memories. Think jewelry, homeware, personal accessories, hobbies, crafts or anything else that can spark a smile.

What we’re asking, really, is to keep in mind the material that you wish your gift to be printed in; avoid the cheap Santa figurines and snowflake decorations and think bigger – what can help you win and then help you sell? Remember, the winner gets his models printed by i.materialise!

3D-Print for your bright Christmas with the right gifts!

Check out the Things you should know section for more info on category specifications!

Makers and DIYers are suddenly among the sexiest amateurs online. Everyone's building, creating, constructing - it seems that surfing (the most hipster hobby available), has now been replaced. What gave the Makers Movement such a powerful boost that it went from geeky to cool? We’ll take a wild guess and say that (among other things) it’s definitely 3D printing models.

Makers are dedicated to building useful, sustainable products using the collective knowledge, since designs are often open source, allowing others to contribute. We have noticed the surging interest in the Makers Movement among 3D designers and thought it’s the right time to tap into this fast-growing industry. We’re fascinated to see what constructions and creations you will submit to the Makers Challenge, because we (like yourselves) believe that if you can think it, you can print it. It’s all about finding the right angle and making it into 3D files.

So what will be considerate suitable? Anything that involves engineering, building, creating, constructing, has that crazy vibe of invention and innovation and consists of at least three components. Makers want to earn money while changing the world and the society for the better, keep that in mind when you’re fiddling with your new projects. And while you're at it, think about your design from a journalist's perspective - would it make a cover story of an ordinary man, who has devised an extraordinary product? Excellent.

There’s been a lot of discussion and a lot of speculation about the way the fashion industry will be disrupted by 3D printing technology in the near future. Some believe that 3D-printed fashion will take the streets first and then climb its way to the podiums and haute couture salons, while others argue that 3D printing models have already left a distinct mark on high-end fashion and the influence it has on upcoming trends will only increase. All we can do now is stay up to speed with whatever is going on in the industry and place our bets.

The 3D Fashion Challenge is a window to the future. We are giving you full control – decide for yourself what the hot trends will be, the must-haves, the new design masterpieces and old-but-transformed bestsellers. How will 3D printing change the way we choose and wear everything from clothes to shoes and essential accessories like bags, hats or belts? Will the customization option bring in more creativity or chaos? Will we see hundreds of different designs of the same item and pop-up street stalls with 3D-printed goodies or will we opt for one-of-a-kind designs?

Mix and match and show us the face of the future fashion.

Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian Renaissance genius, has been dead for almost 500 years, but his works continue to captivate the modern day researchers and scientists. He’s best remembered for his masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa or the Last Supper, but Leonardo da Vinci is also one of the greatest anatomists of all times. During his lifetime, the great painter made thousands of notes and drawings of human body; clinical anatomists believe that his works can still help us understand the mechanics of human body, since they were hundreds of years ahead of its time.

So why are we suddenly so interested in the Renaissance legend? Easy. We are hoping to unearth future artists, who work with slightly different drawing tools, like 3D modeling software, but will make a similar impact on art and mankind alike. Da Vinci is probably the best inspirational source you could find.

We’re after high-quality, detailed visualizations of man and woman bodies that could become a great learning tool used to explore the systems of human body as well as realistic human 3D models that would easily pass the strict scrutiny of video game developers. Human character model challenge is dedicated to human anatomy, the shapes and proportions of human body, the intricate details of anatomical structures, systems, muscles and organs. Can you master a realistic face, hands, skeleton or human model? We want to see it.

Show us what you’ve got.

There are so many mechanical innovations and crazy inventions that technologically it is already entirely possible to have a part car, part bus, part train parked in your garage. It does sound a little insane, but only because it’s a completely new concept to us. We don’t realize that when we’re on a plane, we’re basically flying on a drone, as drones are based on the exact same technology. Does having a personal flying vehicle in front of your home excite you or scare you?

Designing a future vehicle (maybe a 3D spaceship?) is a liberating experience, since there are no rules and no expectations. The Future Vehicles challenge is aimed at those who can’t help but wonder what the future supercars will look like, how we’ll travel from point A to point B and what new and captivating features these vehicles will possess. Any sci fi 3D models are welcome!

Do not limit yourself to the conventional means of transport, let’s explore all possible methods of travelling – from electric rickshaws, to two-wheeled part drone, part car monsters or even flying trams. Any computer-generated 3D model of a fantasy concept vehicle is welcome, as we join forces in unraveling the future travel.

3D Printing Kids Challenge: Learn, Dream, Create

If your brain is bubbling with ideas, you have a flair for technology and have the guts to go head to head with other young geniuses like yourself, take this challenge and see your inventions come to life.

Do you see ways how to improve the school life, home and leisure time using 3D models for printing? Have you developed an inspiring toy concept or come up with a brilliant invention for everyday problems? Then go ahead and design it. The easiest way to develop a truly inventive idea for your project is to find something that causes trouble, a daily problem that gets people frustrated, something that requires a creative approach – then put your mind to it and offer a 3D printing-inspired solution.

We will welcome a wide range of good quality 3D printable models from juniors aged 14 & under.

Let your imagination roam free – learn, dream, create!

Cars are so last season. The world is changing - with the climate change threatening the survival of human beings and gas costs skyrocketing, a record number of people are opting for a much healthier and cheaper commute - cycling. There are billions of bikes produced every year, which basically means one thing - they are mainstream. FlyKly, the main sponsor of this challenge, is just the right example to illustrate cyclists’ devotion to finding the smoothest and smartest way to travel.

“Cycling is a great solution to commute in the city, escape the traffic, save the environment and be part of the community. FlyKly is dedicated to making bicycle friendly cities and improving the way we travel from A to Z in the fastest, smoothest and smartest way possible. With this challenge, FlyKly would like to encourage designers to design innovative 3d printing models for urban cycling that will be available instantly to 3D print and fun to use in order to make the urban cycling fun, safe and smart,” - says Niko Klansek, Founder of FlyKly.

3D printing is here to help us take advantage of mass personalization by offering cyclists the opportunity to customize their urban beasts. 3D Printed Bicycle Accessories Challenge is an opportunity for you to tap into this huge and still growing market. Cyclists take their gear very seriously, so if you can offer them relevant, and (more importantly) better products than the ones that already exist in the marketplace, you can be sure to grow some loyal clientele.

What does it take to turn a standard bike into a street-killer? Just about everything you can think of: valve caps, mirrors, wall mounts, bottle holders, mud guards or handlebar grips… Take a good look at a bike and go reinvent it. Please.