The RESHAPE design competition, which invites submissions for new solutions in wearable technology and product design using 3D printing and other digital manufacturing technologies, returns this year for the RESHAPE 19 V Edition. The competition is organized by Noumena, a robotics, 3D printing and wearable specialist, Barcelona 3D printing event INDUSTRY (formerly known as IN(3D)USTRY), Fira de Barcelona, Barcelona’s trade fair institution, and the IED Barcelona Design University.
In 2018, the theme for RESHAPE18 centered around ‘Sensing Materialities’, focusing on customized garments and products promoting healthy lifestyles. In this edition the 3D printed ‘gill garment’ Amphibio from researcher, designer and materials scientist Jun Kamei won the competition.
Now in its fifth year, the theme of RESHAPE 19 is ‘Cognified matter’, which challenges makers and designers to create wearable technology and smart products that utilize sustainable models for future applications. Submissions are now open, and will close on the 26th August 2019.
Connecting humans and technology to the environment
RESHAPE 19: Cognified Matter emphasizes the role of technology in enabling us to adapt to a changing world in an era of interconnected humans and devices. RESHAPE express that “cognified devices carry the answers to some of the most pressing challenges posed to our customary norms and ways of doing things.”
With this in mind, RESHAPE is looking for project proposals that question the role of technology in the new paradigms of society. The competition will focus on applicants who seek to bridge the gap between ‘the human and the digital:’ submissions that envision future needs and novel ways of interaction using digital manufacturing to produce custom solutions.
As with last year’s RESHAPE competition, the V edition is split into two categories: Wearable technology and Smart Product. The Wearable technology category challenges designers to create pieces of clothing that connects the wearer to the environment while combating common health issues like respiratory problems, or the pollution of natural elements. Criteria for the garments is vast, with acceptable proposals ranging from programmable materials to biotechnology applications and wearable electronics.
For the Smart Product category, RESHAPE is looking for product solutions that promote well-being and healthcare for a variety of applications, from automotive to sports and medical devices. Makers and designers are challenged to create a product design that operate as a “mediating factor between the forces shaping our environments”, which includes monitoring, sensing, and interacting with the physical and digital world. Furthermore, designers are asked to consider the social and environmental impact of their products.
The organisers explain, “Reshape V edition will shortlist three winners, respectively from the Wearable technology and Smart product category. Additionally, two honorable mentions will be nominated for each category. The first winning designers will be awarded two scholarships* (value: 6.500 Euro) for the Design for Wearables postgraduate at IED Barcelona, and a financial prize up to 1.000 Euro.”
“Moreover, all selected talents, winners and honorable mentions, will have the chance to participate in Reshape Forum, with a free ticket pass at INDUSTRY From Need to Solution Event (overall ticket price: 400 Euro) . At the Reshape Forum, designers will meet relevant industry leaders, presenting their proposals to the INDUSTRY and Reshape audience. Additionally, shortlisted projects will be showcased at Reshape Exhibition and invited to the Reshape Networking night.”
“*(100% Scholarship program for the Wearable technology category 1st winner, 50% Scholarship program for the Smart Product category 1st winner. The inscription fee is not included.”
RESHAPE18 winners
In the Product design category for RESHAPE18, Royal College of Art (RCA) designer Jun Kamei’s Amphibio concept was awarded 1st prize for its “significant experimental approach, establishing interconnections between users, environment and data.” Amphibio is a 3D printed mask that aims to help humans breathe underwater using gills, designed for a future where rising sea levels have submerged megacities in a foreboding statement regarding the effects of Global Warming.
In an interview with 3D Printing Industry, Kamei explains how the 3D printed gills work: “The system is enclosed with air tight one way valve, thus the only way oxygen could be replenished in the gill is through the membrane from the surrounding water. The surrounding water has oxygen dissolved into it, and because the percentage of oxygen is low inside of the gill, these oxygen molecules in the water travel through the membrane inside of the gill to compensate the concentration difference.”
Designers and PhD researchers from RCA Mingjing Lin and Tsai-chun Huang were among the winners in the Wearable technology category for RESHAPE 18 as well. Their entry, “Fold the Interfashionality”, was designed for the Beijing Opera, and consists of 3D printed traditional pleated costumes using 3D printers from Polish SLS 3D printing company, Sinterit. The costumes were used for an exclusive performance of ‘Farewell My Concubine’ by Beijing Opera singers at the RCA on 1 December 2017.
3D Printing Industry has also interviewed Mingjing Lin, where she discusses the reason for using traditional techniques with 3D printed textiles: “I would like to test or challenge whether 3D printed textiles could be used in more interesting bodily practices, whether 3D printing could have more fluidity and more dynamics. And I believe this technology has a lot more to offer in terms of body movement.”
3D Printing Industry is holding its own design competition for the 2019 3D Printing Industry Awards trophy. Enter your design for a chance to win an Ultimaker 3 3D printer and put your design in the hands of leading industry stakeholders.
Voting is now open for the 3D Printing Industry Awards.
Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter for the latest news in additive manufacturing. You can also keep connected by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook. Looking for a career in additive manufacturing? Visit 3D Printing Jobs for a selection of roles in the industry.
Featured image shows cover for RESHAPE 19 V edition design competition. Image via RESHAPE.
