Recipient of 2017 Be3Dimensional Innovation Grant Explores the Possibilities of 3D Printing and Design

One of my favorite areas of 3D printing is that of 3D printed art. It’s an entirely new area, resulting in designs unlike anything that has been seen before. Just like in the areas of medicine, aerospace, manufacturing, and – well, just about every other area, 3D printing opens up new possibilities for art. New geometries, new ideas – the ability to build in a different way than ever before. While traditional methods of creating art will never disappear, the digital revolution is giving rise to a whole new sector of creation, and it’s a tremendously exciting time for the art world.

Many institutions have recognized the importance of 3D printed art, and are using their resources to help foster its growth. Last year, Ryerson University and Think2Thing awarded the first Be3Dimensional Innovation Grants to two artists from Canada. The grant was developed in late 2015 as a way to support innovators using 3D technology in the fields of art, fashion, and design, and the Think2Thing team told 3DPrint.com during our recent visit that they were enthusiastic for the next incarnation of the grant. We also heard from a Toronto-based fashion designer about the support she has received from Ryerson as this area is in focus. It’s fashion that has taken center stage this year, as the 2017 Innovation Grant has been awarded to Toronto fashion designer Sid Neigum.

Jury Chair @Jeanne_Beker announces the winner of this year’s #Be3D Innovation Fund in the area of #Fashion: @SidNeigum! @RyersonU pic.twitter.com/ja6J6EwhFt

— THINK2THING (@Think2thing) June 22, 2017

Neigum’s work is both beautiful and, unlike some high fashion, wearable-looking. His pieces include flowing, satiny gowns, crystal-studded sheaths, and garments that curve and arch as though they’d been sculpted – which, technically, they have, not from clay but from software and filament.

“The capabilities of 3D modelling, scanning and printing are extremely exciting in garment construction and design,” says Neigum.

Neigum has won a number of prestigious awards already, including the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s New Labels Award, the Mercedes Benz Start-Up Award, the CAFA Emerging Talent Award, and the DHL Exported Award. After studying Fashion Design and Apparel Production in Edmonton, Neigum moved to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology and intern for designer Yigal Azrouël.

According to a recent interview, Neigum’s $50,000 award may involve some experimentation with 3D knitting. An emerging technology, 3D knitting still has a lot of room for development – according to Neigum, the fabrics are still rather plastic-y, but he believes they can be modified to be as soft as typical synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester. That’s the challenge of fashion design using 3D printing, as well – you can make something look cool, but will it actually be comfortable enough to wear beyond the runway? Judging from Neigum’s work so far, the creation of garments that are feasibly wearable is a priority.

“We can’t imagine a more deserving recipient of the first grant from the Be3Dimensional Innovation Fund in the area of Fashion than Sid Neigum,” said Think2Thing Design Director David Didur. “We look forward to working with Sid at Think2Thing to develop exciting fashion designs using cutting edge 3D technologies.”

Neigum was chosen by a jury of veterans from the Canadian fashion industry. Chaired by Jeanne Beker, the jury included:

• Barbara Atkin, Fashion Consultant and Mentor
• Bonnie R. Brooks C.M., Former Vice Chair, and CEO of Hudson’s Bay Company
• Susan Langdon, Executive Director of the Toronto Fashion Incubator
• Nicholas Mellamphy, Fashion/Creative Director
• Robert Ott, Associate Professor, School of Fashion and Director of the Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute at Ryerson University
• Suzanne Rogers, Fashion Patron and Benefactor

You can check out Neigum’s work on his Instagram page. Discuss in the Be3Dimensional forum at 3DPB.com.