Jul.18, 2012
No matter how advanced our society and technology is, we can never forget our origins. Many great designers derive their inspiration from nature, such as Dutch fashion designer Marieka Ratsma and American architect Kostika Spaho.
Ratsma and Spaho's 3D printed shoes highlights the aesthetics and used the shape of a bird's cranium for the front of the shoe, as well as the tapered beak as the spike of the heel. The structure of the hollow skull inspired the designers to utilize 3D printing for their design for optimal efficiency, strength and elegance.
Marieka Ratsma designed the structure in collaboration with 3D-modeler and graphic designer Kostika Spaho. The shoes are 3D printed at i.Materialise in Belgium.
Marieka Ratsma notes:
Nature could serve as a source of inspiration for a new way of designing. If we learn from its experience in the field of design, processes and lifestyles, we can develop intelligent systems, ingenious products and effective partnerships.
Nature can also prove highly inspiring in the field of fashion. Above all, she can teach us to make more efficient use of materials and smarter constructions.
In this regard, rapidly developing innovative technologies, such as 3D printing, may prove beneficial by offering us means of imitating nature more accurately in our designs.
Nature actually functions by making efficient use of raw materials and pooling resources. This approach can also be applied in the fashion sector.
The smart use of materials and cross fertilisation among various disciplines could lead to a new design perspective. The concentration of strengths and sharing of burdens creates a win-win situation for all players, a synergy.
Source: Dezeen
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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