Eight 3D printing highlights of Dutch Design Week 2015

Oct 29, 2015 | By Benedict

Between Saturday 17th and Sunday 25th October, Eindhoven welcomed visitors from all over the world for Dutch Design Week 2015. Being Netherlands-based ourselves, we could hardly wait to check out the convention, and set off for the North Brabant city to find the country’s best 3D printed design offerings. The following is a list, in no particular order, of some of the most interesting 3D printing projects on display at Dutch Design Week 2015.

1. VormVrij’s 3D printed ceramics

Young 3D printing company VormVrij is comprised of concept designer and sculptor Marlieke Wijnakker and technical designer Yao van de Heerik. The duo have developed their own clay-printing 3D printer, called the LUTUM. Their stall at the Klokgebouw showcased an impressive array of 3D printed ceramics, including jewellery, miniature pots, and the fantastic busts shown below. The LUTUM ceramic 3D printer is fitted with dual brass/steel extruders and a single nozzle, with max print dimensions of 650x700x850mm. It boasts a print speed of 30mm/s for rounded parts and 15mm/s for cornered parts, with its max speed standing at a healthy 100mm/s, at 3mm extrusion width and 1.5mm extrusion height. The LUTUM 3D printer works with open source software such as slic3r, Pronterface, and Repetier. From what we saw at DDW, it is clear that the pair’s respective talents combine for incredible results. “I wanted to work with clay and Yao was working with self-assembly plastic printers, but he got sick of all the plastic waste,” Wijnakker explained to us. Another company sick to death of plastic waste was conveniently located right next to VormVrij’s stall…

2. Refil’s 100% recycled filament

Refil, a product of Better Future Factory, is a fully recycled 3D printing filament, currently available in two materials and colours. Refil’s translucent PET filament is made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, whilst its black ABS filament is made from Volvo and Audi car dashboards. The Refil stand showcased the process behind Refil, as well as some impressive PET lampshades and containers, printed with the company’s preferred Ultimaker 3D printers. See our separate article on Refil for further info about the company’s current plans.

3. Smart Replicas’ virtual world in a 3D printed teacup

Smart Replicas is the intriguing outcome of a collaboration between Studio Maaike Roozenburg and Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Delft Technical University, and LikeFriends. Down at Kazerne, we took a look at what appeared to be an aesthetically pleasing 3D printed teacup, but Smart Replicas have produced something more impressive than replica kitchenware. Although the physical object is itself impressive, things get really interesting when the Smart Replicas app is introduced. With an app-loaded iPad pointing its camera at the replica 17th century Japanese teacup, we were able to peer at a virtual environment surrounding the teacup on the tablet screen, providing a whole load of information about the (original) teacup’s history. We’d love to see Smart Replicas on the shelves in our local homeware stores.

4. Nearly There 3D portraits

Not so much a 3D print as a critique of certain 3D printing trends and cultures, Jonathan Roditi’s Nearly There installation at the Design Academy Eindhoven’s graduate show offered an unnerving and satirical look at the 3D printed future of portraiture. The young designer’s project questioned the reasoning behind mankind’s continued desire to attain the most lifelike representation of friends and loved ones. Roditi’s eerily uncanny projections of human subjects, made from 3D scans, made us never want to see a 3D portrait again, but the installation was undoubtedly thought-provoking. Though clearly a fun novelty, are 3D printed selfies the most tasteful and satisfying way of capturing the faces of our loved ones?

5. Print+ 3D printed headphones

After reporting on the massively successful Kickstarter campaign for Print+ 3D printed headphones in September, we stumbled across the real thing by accident. Twice. Located in the Yksi Expo (and the Eindhoven tourist information building), Patrick Schuur’s colourful creations were a comfortable fit and both looked and sounded great. With the Kickstarter campaign now closed, backers can expect to receive their 3D printed headphone kits in early 2016.

6. Hélo 3D printed earphones

There were other impressive 3D prints to behold at the Design Academy Eindhoven’s Graduation Show, such as Pieter Husmann’s additively manufactured, customised earphones. The project, named Hélo, was developed in line with the growing popularity of wearable electronics, with Husmann designing 3D printed, wireless, custom-fit earphones that can be connected to your mobile through Bluetooth. The earphones, which were made using multi-material 3D printing, are as functional as they are stylish!

Images from Hélo

7. Olivier van Herpt’s functional 3D printed ceramics

It’s difficult to believe that Olivier van Herpt’s range of 3D printed ceramics is the work of a Bachelor student. Recipient of a Cum Laude distinction, Keep an Eye grant winner, and Melkweg Award nominee, van Herpt has the 3D printing world at his feet. These attractive 3D printed vessels were designed to be food safe and functional.

8. SLEM’s 3D printed footwear

The fashion highlight of the Dutch Design Week was undoubtedly footwear education centre SLEM’s collaboration with 10 Dutch designers from various design fields. The project, “These shoes are made by printing”, was an experiment to see what would happen if 10 designers put their efforts towards making 3D printed shoes. The exposition was as exciting as you’d expect, with a collection of some of the wackiest, but most innovative shoe designs we’ve ever seen. From walking on clouds, to 3D printed ballet toe-shoes, to the heels designed for Dutch education minister Jet Bussemaker, there was a lot to be impressed by. The exposition was also interactive, with an army of Ultimaker 2 3D printers running tirelessly, and an extensive selection of 3D printed shoes to try on. See our separate article on SLEM’s project for more information.

All Images from 3Ders unless otherwise stated

Dutch Design Week 2015 proved that the Netherlands—home of Shapeways, Ultimaker, and many other recognisable 3D printing companies — possesses an abundance of talent when it comes to 3D printing. We saw additive manufacturing technology being used for environmental, scientific, sartorial and entertainment purposes, including radical innovations that could change the future of design. We’ll be back next year to see what the country of clogs and windmills can come up with next. Keep following 3Ders for updates on all of the featured designs and more.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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