Lands’ End Launches a 3D Printing-Related Contest for School Children

The school uniform is, arguably, the antithesis of individuality and creativity, which is surely one of the objectives of imposing a school uniform rule in the first place. Kids, when left to their own sartorial devices, can be extremely creative (if not always exactly tasteful or appropriate). What child hasn’t wished to extend the use of a Darth Vader costume beyond Halloween and into the school environs, for instance?

Creativity in the school setting need not be stifled, however. Lands’ End — the well-known, Dodgeville, Wisconsin-based outdoors and sports clothing, home furnishings, and luggage retailer — has created a niche for itself in the school uniform business. In the spirit of encouraging creativity and ingenuity in school children ages 13 and up, Lands’ End is sponsoring a 3D printing contest.

The company’s Make-It! 3D Printer Contest was launched recently and is accepting submissions through December 8, 2014. Entries should be submitted in the form of 60-second videos in which the individual entrant answers the question, “If you could make anything you wanted with a 3D printer, what would you make and why?” The video submissions — via each entrant’s personal YouTube Channel — will be judged on humor, creativity, the strength of the message, and whether the concept or idea is useful or serves an important purpose.

Joe Ferreri, Senior Vice President of Lands’ End Outfitters (which oversees the School Uniform business), explained that the company recognizes the increasingly significant role 3D printing is playing in future innovation. Lands’ End believes that, in addition to attending to the daily vestiary needs of today’s young people, it has a role to play in encouraging future engineers, designers, technologists, scientists, and entrepreneurs. “Maybe we’ll even find the next generation of Lands’ End apparel designers,” remarked Ferreri.

The grand prize winner of the Make-It! 3D Printer Contest will receive an Afinia H-Series 3D printer for his or her school and receives a $200 Lands’ End Gift Card and tote filled with gifts from Lands’ End. The second prize is a donation of $400 to the winner’s school and the individual entrant gets a $100 Lands’ End Gift Card as well as the gift-filled tote. Lastly, the third prize is a $200 donation to the winner’s school plus a $100 Lands’ End Gift Card and a gift-filled tote. All winners will be notified by the company on December 15.

Let us know if you have entered this contest.  Discuss in the Lands’ End Forum thread on 3DPB.com.