www.3ders.org

Nov.26, 2014 | By Alec

While visitors of 3ders.org might not need to be convinced themselves, many people would scoff at the idea that 3D printed creations can match the warmth or artistry of hand-crafted objects. And that isn't just because of ignorance; after all a computer-generated design printed by an automated extruder is something entirely different than a handmade object that involves techniques handed down by generation upon generation.

But who's to say that computer design doesn't involve a very high level of artistry itself? Doesn't the computer designer need an eye for detail and creation, alongside the right 'feel', just as much as the potter or painter do?

While everyone's definitely entitled to their own opinions, the French graduate student Alice Le Biez doesn't need to be convinced anymore. Having studied both traditional artistry techniques in Paris and Brussels (at the Ecole Boulle and the National School of La Cambre, respectively) and modern 3D design at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Art in England, she knows what she's talking about. In Manchester, she completed a master's course in Product Design, which culminated in a beautiful series of 3D printed bowls.

Throughout her studies, she noticed that people without extensive knowledge of 3D printing tend to regard this technology as something that will only 'create more waste or unnecessary objects. They give instantly more value to a hand-made product.' However she's firmly committed to the 3D side of this argument herself, and has the ceramic evidence to back it up.

As she explained in an interview, she even only came into contact with 3D printing technology in 2013. 'I was interested in this new technology since the beginning but I only had the opportunity to use it at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Art during my Masters.' There, she began exploring the potential of Solidworks 3D software and a regular FDM printer relying on ABS, before 'pursuing other materials such as acrylic, nylon and ceramics.

As she explained, 3D printing proved to be a very efficient method to create ceramics. 'Normally, ceramic is a material which needs a lot of time and attention. The designer has to conceive the mould in plaster, let it dry, then he probably has to try several times to get a perfect result.' In contrast, 3D printing allows craftsmen to make a bowl of the exact dimensions in a single iteration, because you don't have to worry about molding and potential shrinkage. 'I was surprised how quickly it can be done.'

This convinced her to explore this technology's potential further, and develop an object that (as her final product certainly does) resembles a hand-made production. 'I really wanted to change their mind and show that designers and craftsmen can create valuable, emotional objects with 3D Printing.'

This inspired her to create three bowls of three different materials: acrylic, nylon and ceramic (the last printed through i.materialise's services). While the first two types were not so well received by others – the acrylic print captured every stereotype about 3D printing, being called 'cheap and disposable' – her ceramic bowl was a big hit. 'People thought that it was a hand-made product because of the material. They were surprised to learn that we can print this kind of design in ceramics!'

Alice's 3D printed acrylic bowls.

Incidentally, this was also the one that proved to be most enjoyable to make. 'Ceramic is a material that is associated with history and craftsmanship. The first ceramic pottery dates back to Greek history and the time of the Gauls and the Romans. Realizing ceramic through 3D Printing was challenging, but it also showed me a new direction to create something different.'

Alice's 3D printed nylon bowls.

So could this ceramic printing be the key to giving 3D printing artistry some more value in the eyes of the general public? It could very well do that, as Alice herself discovered when testing peoples' reactions. But there's a logical reason for that, as ceramic has a more natural look and feel, especially when compared to nylon, acrylic or even regular printing plastic. As Alice argued '[that] gives a lot of value to this set of bowls. That was really interesting because, of the three sets, the ceramic one was the cheapest one to make.'

Projects like this are could do much to improve 3D printing's artistic reputation in the eyes of the general public. Though it will undoubtedly take a while before 3D printing becomes a staple feature in art museums all over the world, despite all its artistic potential.

Though there is, an even Alice concedes it, one clear advantage to traditional crafting techniques: being able to see and touch your creation before its completed. 'The inability to see my product before it was 3D Printed was the most difficult part. But at the same time it's amazing to see that my idea directly 3D Printed and was made ready-to-use.'

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Applications

 

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