3D printing lights the way for a sleek and modern table lamp design.

Every year, the Extreme Redesign Challenge calls upon tomorrow’s engineers, artists and entrepreneurs to design a better future. It is a test to see who can come up with the most creative, mechanically sound, and realistically achievable design using 3D printing. Seven winners were selected and received scholarships for their efforts as well as features on our website and blog.

The industrial design industry has rapidly changed over the last thirty years, going from CAD design and engineering to more holistic approach of an end-to end user centered experience.  This user experience centered design, and lighting design specifically, is exactly what motivated Jade Akim, a student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design to enter her table lamp into the Extreme Redesign Challenge, in the Art, Design, Architecture, Jewelry category this year.  On suggestion to her class from their instructor, David Proeber, Jade looked at the opportunity to enter her unique design in the contest as a way to further engage with a community she was already familiar with. “The class was already members of the GrabCad community when Mr. Proeber pointed out the opportunity to submit our designs to this year’s challenge. Although it wasn’t an academic requirement, this was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”

Jade’s entry, a unique lamp design that beautifully blends simple sophistication and a futuristic aesthetic comprised of a variety of pieces, that can be 3D printed. The shade inspired by the simple clean spherical shape supported by a sweeping base to create a form that elegantly and warmly emits light and casts shadows in a unique way.  “I had played around with the idea of creating a lamp that incorporated stars or constellations but liked the idea of using a shade that used a transparent material with lines and waves to create a softer, less harsh light, perfect for relaxing.” As industrial design moves into the modern era of user-centricity, 3D printing will likely play a continued role in introducing concepts and designs that bring fresh perspectives to light.