16 Major 3D Designers Go Head-to-Head in Contest at 3D Printer World Expo

At the end of January, 16 leading 3D artists will demonstrate their skill in a contest at this year’s 3D Printer World Expo 2015 Burbank. The Expo, which runs from January 29th to the 31st, is being held at the Marriott Burbank Hotel and Convention Center. It brings together under one massive roof exhibits, educational opportunities, demonstrations, contests, and critical networking opportunities relevant to the world of 3D printing. If you haven’t yet made arrangements to attend, you can still register on 3D Printer World’s website.

The Live Sculpt-Off is set for Friday, January 30, when this year’s expo attendees will have the opportunity to watch these experts in 3D design go head to head with the results of their individual efforts to be 3D printed in color by 3D Rapid Prototyping (3DRP) so that expo goers can cast a vote for their favorite design. You won’t be in Burbank at this year’s expo? You can still cast your vote by going online as photographs of each piece will posted so that participation can be worldwide.

The contest, which is sponsored by Pixologic, 3D Systems Gentle Giant Studios, FSL3D, Wacom, and 3DRP. Contest participants will compete in one of two categories: The hard-surface “Jaeger-Themed” competition or the “Kaiju-Themed” organic one. The talented artists in this year’s face-off hail from major forces in the 3D industry.

The participants in the Jaeger Showdown are Ioannis Karathomas from Darkside Game Studios, Jared Krichevsky of the Aaron Sims Company, Justin Fields of IronKlad Studios, freelancer Kirill Chepizhko, Furio Tedeschi of Bioware Montreal, Vaughan Ling of Warner Animation Group and Tony Leonard, a freelance artist for Tonikorol Studios, and Matt Thorup of Disney Interactive.

In the Kaiju Showdown are Katon Callaway of DICE LA, Rafael Grassetti of Sony Santa Monica, Ian Joyner of Legacy Effects, Maxence Fleuret of Hangar 13, Alvara Buendia and Laurent Perlot, both of Blizzard Entertainment, Majid Esmaeili of The Mill, and Paul Liaw, a freelance artist currently working at The Mill.

Winners in each of the two categories will go home with a Pegasus Touch SLA 3D printer from FSL3D as well as a large 3D print of their sculpted creation thanks to 3D Systems Gentle Giant Studios. Second place finishers won’t be disappointed either as they’ll each take home a Cintiq 13HD Pen Tablet (lets you work with the pen directly on the tablet) courtesy of Wacom.

We’re looking forward to seeing what the vanguard of 3D design and printing is going to create in this battle of major talents. We’ll be sharing the results of the contest with you in a couple of weeks!

Let us know your thoughts on this head-to-head sculpt-off over at the 3D Printer World Contest forum thread at 3DPB.com.