Global Footwear Design Competition 2014: Enter Your 3D Printable Shoe Design and Win a Trip to Milan!

Milan brings to mind runways, sleekly pouting super models, and celebrities. You can join in on the glamour as well next February if you’ve got some 3D printable shoe designs that make the cut with Delcam CRISPIN, the world’s largest supplier of CADCAM software to the footwear industry. With entries required by December 31, Delcam CRISPIN is launching the Global Footwear Design Competition 2014 with the ‘goal to ignite creativity and innovation in the next generation of footwear designers.’

The UK-based provider of CADCAM software for footwear design is hoping you’ll show them your fanciest footwork and artistry in entering, with first prize being a paid trip to Milan, with an invitation to attend SIMAC 2015. Three prizes will be given, with a first prize winner and two runners-up. All three designs will be displayed at SIMAC, the International Exhibition of Machines and Technologies for Footwear and Leather Goods Industries, held in Milan in February. The designs will also be featured on 3DSHOES.com.

While priding themselves on being involved with ‘major shoemaking, orthopaedic and engineering educational establishments around the world,’ Delcam CRISPIN is on a mission to inspire creativity in new designers and help them follow through in their dreams to create footwear. They are the world’s largest supplier of CADCAM software to the footwear industry and are the only supplier able to provide a complete solution for the design and manufacture of lasts, uppers and soles.

Delcam CRISPIN is asking contestants to choose one of three categories for their shoe design:

• Men’s Formal
• Women’s Formal
• Athletic

The really cool thing about this contest is that Delcam CRISPIN is empowering contestants with the tools to create their designs, and learn about their design software in the process. This is in keeping with their presence as a company that stresses ‘sharing, knowledge, and innovation within the footwear design industry.’ While it’s important to note that contestants don’t have to use the ShoeMaker-e software, it’s a great tool to examine at any time.

There are two versions of the ShoeMaker-e software: ShoeMaker-e Professional or ShoeMaker-e Student. Available as a free download, contestants are provided with a comprehensive suite of shoe design tools offering tutorials that help with:

• Design
• Selection of materials and textures
• Choice and placing of stitching
• Incorporation of items like buckles and laces

Delcam CRISPIN encourages contestants to be creative and to use the tools and libraries available to them, as well as expressing their individuality in creating something truly unique. They propose that you ‘be the best, and let your mind run wild with their sophisticated, yet intuitive design tools.’

“Our goal with the competition is to ignite the creativity and innovation in the next generation of 3D footwear professionals by giving designers the opportunity to use our 3D software to turn their original ideas into finished designs,” explained Chris Lawrie of Delcam CRISPIN. “All types of design are welcome as entries—men’s dress shoes, ladies court shoes, sports shoes or even extreme fashion footwear. We are to looking to find the most innovative design imaginable.”

Does this look like a contest you might want to enter? Have you used Delcam CRISPIN’s software? Tell us about it in the Delcam CRISPIN Global Footwear Design Competition forum thread at 3DPB.com.