Kids and grownups co-design 3D printed objects

The Shapeways 3D printing blog shows off designs that kids and adults have worked on together. I really like this fire-engine, co-designed between Vijay Paul of DotSan and his 6- and 7-year-old cousins (it has yet to be instantiated):

Co-designing with kids

Previously:

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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vamidus

wonderful toy! although i would have stayed true to the drawing: the 3d model has a 5-section emergency light fixture (BRBRB), the drawing has a 4-section one (BRBR). the mirror-spelled FIRE is a good addition though.
Muse

I love kid/adult collaborations. This is a fun use of 3D modeling and printing technology. I wish that a little of the naive “wobbly” quality of the kids art had been preserved in the final designs though.

I think my favorite translation of kids art into real world 3D objects is the Totally kid carousel.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathangotphoto/3843883336/in/photostream/

Although it was done without digital technology, I think the spirit of the kids art was fully retained in the translation to 3D.
Anonymous

It was an exercise to introduce idea realization, you can follow progress here http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=2004&start=0&S=638f02a751f91b8888398d0ada7f8824

Vijay
SamSam

This reminds me of an absolutely fantastic series of toys, drawn by kids, and then recreated as models so that they perfectly matched the wobbly lines, lack of perspective and so-forth. One of the toys was a rocketship. I *believe* I saw this in a Mad magazine.

Anyone know what I’m talking about? They’re fantastic, so I’ll look further when I have time, if necessary.
cornballer

I am by no means comparing the two, but these images immediately reminded me of “Children’s art work” from Maddox “Best Page in the Universe”

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=irule2

Ding Ding!
entropy

inÂ·stanÂ·tiÂ·ate

tr.v. inÂ·stanÂ·tiÂ·atÂ·ed, inÂ·stanÂ·tiÂ·atÂ·ing, inÂ·stanÂ·tiÂ·ates

To represent (an abstract concept) by a concrete or tangible example: “Two apples … both instantiate the single universal redness” (J. Holloway).

Thanks for the new word Cory…
Anonymous

The models have now been created and can be bought from here http://www.shapeways.com/shops/dotsan
Let me know if you have any questions info@dotsan.com.
V
Anonymous

I love 3D printers :-)
There’s so much fun to be had with the ability to freely bring digital items into the physical realm.

Unfortunately, I see a dark future ahead:

Imagine the despair of the RIAA and MPAA about what the ease of copying digital data did for their industry (due to their failure to adapt ofcourse).

So, now imagine the despair all real world production industries will have once 3D printing goes mainstream; starting with toy companies and other fairly easy single material items, and work your way up to more complex items as 3D printers get more capable (think of ending with nanofabbers using nanites with base materials to construct almost anything).

This will be fun to watch…