Stratasys Announces 11th Annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge

It’s that time of the year again. No, I’m not talking about Halloween. I’m talking about the annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge from Stratasys that is now running for its 11^th year. For over a decade, the challenge has been seeking the very best products that students in fields such as engineering, art, architecture, or design can contribute that will improve upon current methods for achieving a task. This can be done either by contributing an entirely new design or through the improvement of an existing one.

Students around the world are invited to submit their designs for review based on soundness of design mechanics, creativity, usefulness, aesthetics (in the art or architecture category), and a compelling description of the proposed product. Students can submit entries as individuals or as part of a two person team in the form of an STL file through an online portal on the Stratasys website. Those interested in participating are already deeply enmeshed in the design process as the deadline for entry is February 11, 2015.

The prizes are nothing to sneeze at, either. The first place winner in each category will be the recipient of $2,500 in scholarships. There are benefits for those who have helped to teach this up and coming generation of design movers and shakers. The instructor of a first place winner will get to “borrow” a 3D printer for a limited time to use in their classroom. Second and Third place winners each receive $1,000 scholarships and the entries that make the top 10 for each category get what the sponsor coyly refers to as “a Stratasys apparel item.” Finally, regional semifinalists will be rewarded with a real live 3D print of their design.

As an added bonus, the winner of the first place prize for post secondary entrants will receive a trip to a to-be-determined 3D printing/additive manufacturing conference, something that has a great deal of value beyond the simple monetary prizes. That’s not to say that Stratasys has in any way been less than generous; since the contest began they have awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships and a great deal more in ‘in-kind’ donations of technology and experienced assistance.

As with all organizations, events, and even mascots, the Extreme Redesign Contest has a Facebook page where you can keep up with all of the contest’s developments and check out the winners from previous years’ entries. Even if you don’t plan on entering, the designs submitted in years past are worth looking through and the amount of time and effort put into the submissions are immediately evident. Are you planning on participating?  Let us know in the Extreme Design Challenge forum thread on 3DPB.com.