Shapeways Sponsors Hacking Arts Conference 2016 with MIT

When it comes to 3D printing services, Shapeways is a favorite for all. Multi-faceted, and offering a thriving online community atmosphere and marketplace too, this global leader in many 3D printing solutions and activities is headquartered in the US with offices also the Netherlands. They state that their mission since creating the innovative company has been to define the 3D printing industry, and absolutely they have done and are doing this! And that’s not without a little help, as we’ve seen in many of their inimitable contests and exciting challenges—and of late, with designers from all over meeting at Hacking Arts Conference 2016, organized by and held at MIT and sponsored by Shapeways.

Held November 19 and 20, the two-day event invited designers from both the student and professional realm to get together and take time out to discuss the inner workings of interdisciplinary creativity, the entrepreneurial spirit, and more.

The mission on the part of both MIT and Shapeways was to bring together as many creatives as possible in an exploration of ‘the future of the arts.’ This serves not only as a conference and a hackathon, but also as a tech expo.

This is the fourth year MIT has hosted the multi-faceted event, with a focus on all of the following industries:

• Design
• Fashion
• Film and Video
• Gaming
• Music
• Performing Arts
• Virtual and Augmented Reality
• Visual Arts

The conference was meant to open discussions regarding these wide-ranging subjects, allowing visitors to join the conversation with experts from within numerous industries. This all occurred in a series of panels.

The hackathon allowed students and young professionals to take on innovative challenges and then spend 24 hours designing, building, and presenting their ideas to the judges.

The tech expo allowed those attending to see interactive artwork and innovative tools from new designers, along with meeting with the teams from some of the top companies and artists. VR technology, video games, and a host of other exciting new technologies were on the scene.

3D printed materials and products were on hand, and the team from Shapeways greeted all who attended, showing off some great examples of what they do. Everyone was also able to enjoy, along with the hackathon, numerous performances like those from the Holladay Brothers, audio/visual artists who performed during the opening ceremonies of the event.

The team from Shapeways pointed out that they also saw many old friends such as Shapeways Shop Owner Bathsheba Grossman. At the event, she had some of her artwork on display, to include her Klein Bottle openers which are 3D printed in a range of different materials and while they may be functional items for around the house—they are beautifully impressive pieces of art, worth checking out.

The conference is also organized by:

• The MIT Sloan School of Management Entertainment
• Media & Sports Club in partnership with MIT’s Center for Art, Science, and Technology
• The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship

Discuss in the Shapeways forum at 3DPB.com.