The 3D4D Challenge is looking for people to use 3D printing to deliver social benefits to the developing world.  Teams compete for $100,000 in funding to make their ideas for real.

The challenge is being run by techfortrade / Trade4all Limited, a UK charity, launched with privately raised seed funding in early 2011 with a mission to alleviate poverty through technology enabled trade. Their aim is to act as a catalyst for new ideas, working with innovative projects that have the potential to scale and replicate.

This week the Shapeways community turned up the 3D printed awesome another notch... Check out this cool desktop gift.

I respect one of the most experienced software engineers on our project. He is very humble, attempting to divert recognition and point out the accomplishments of others. Despite his protestations, I believe he has saved our company a fair amount of money over the course of this project (I think he's been on this project for 5+ years now). So, I wanted to honor him with a desk sculpture. The whole team chipped in for the cost of the print. I am going to attempt to get this painted by Monday, since we're doing an important test event this week.

This piece is intended to be in the "steampunk" style - a sort of retro future where things are powered by steam and mechanical means, and the style is roughly Victorian / Industrial Revolution. The little plaque on the front says <his name> and "Chief Engineer". The strange machine one which he leans is meant to be an imitation of the sort of product my company produces, since I can't represent software itself tangibly.

Eddie Adolf was the winner of the 'inspiring design' category of our recent Siri Contest and Eddie has now shared his images of the 3D print.

She's listening....

Following is a blog post taken from Shapeways CTO Robert Schouwenburg's personal blog on 3D printing, , Online Creation & Personal Fabrication.

FRED WILSON VC,  Union Square Ventures, often recites his rule of thumb of social internet services. It is the 100-10-1 rule. He sees with social internet services that on average 100% of users consume, 10% of users interact and 1% of users actually create.

So how does this apply to Personal Fabrication? As a social service, there are many options for Personal Fabrication. I am thinking of:

• sharing of designs between designers
• making designs available for fabrication to others
• cooperative design of products between designers and users
• product configurators made by designers for users
• online creation tools for users which interact with all the above

All these options can make personal fabrication a social activity. When you apply the 100-10-1 rule of thumb, the opportunities for scaling such a service become immediately clear. As far as I know there are no exact figures available on how many 3D modelers / product designers there are in the world. But let's assume there are 5 million of them. That would turn social fabrication into a 500M users opportunity. That is Facebook and Google territory. Just imagine 50M users interacting on personal fabrication and the effects it can have on product design and how we design products. This is a very significant opportunity. Of course, the big caveat is that not all 3D modelers / product designers are interested in social fabrication. Maybe only 10% or less. That still leaves a 50M opportunity.

I do wonder what will happen to this ratio. I think it will change over time. I have no data available how this ratio looks like per demographic, but I can imagine that young people are much more engaged to create and interact than older generations. Now when they get older, start their careers and families, I can imagine that some of them drop off. But in general I expect that the creators and interactors groups will become a larger portion of the total users.

The first entrants are starting to appear in the Shapeways 3D Print Flex-Contest and we are really excited to see what you make with the squishy, flexible material.

What will you design?

What is the wildest idea you can think of? 

Which design will have the most squish?

Want to learn how to make your own designs for real with 3D printing? The Shapeways Skillshare School is now ready to help.  We have started to assemble some highly knowledgable and talented 3D designers to help people learn how to design for 3D printing.

We are in the process of populating the school with classes by Aaron Trocola, Natalia Krasnodebska, Kevin Wei and Duann Scott ranging from beginner to more advanced tutorials.  You can subscribe to the school or a particular class to see when one is happening near you.

If you are interested in teaching a class in 3D printing please get in touch and let us know what you have in mind, it may work as part of the Shapeways Skillshare School. 

Today we focus the designer spotlight on KiorodesiGn, whose jewelry designs take inspiration from his hometown in Naples, oceanic themes and his background in the aeronautic industry. 

Name Ciro Esposito

aka KiorodesiGn

Location Naples

3D software of choice Unigraphics NX  

www.kiorodesign.com

http://it-it.facebook.com/kiorodesign

What brought you to 3D printing with Shapeways?

About a year ago, my girlfriend drew a ring that she really liked. So I realized the 3D ring model and started looking for a 3D metal printing service . I found Shapeways as 3d printing service for designers and artists.  

How did you learn how to design in 3D?

I have been working as a cad designer in aerospace industry for twenty years, using several 3D cad system.  

How would you describe your creative process?

designs arise from a simple sketch, from an idea of the moment, and the desire to create something unique. My thrust is passion for design, and the pleasure of beauty and elegant.

Where do you do your best thinking?

Going around driving my scooter. My city is incredibly inspiring.  

What projects are you working on now that you can share?

I'm currently thinking to test the alumide to build casings, but the idea is still in embryonic stage.  

How do you promote your work?

Submitting my website to thematic directories, and inviting my friends on facebook page  

Who in the Shapeways community has served as an inspiration to you?

BASHIBA rings, unellenu, Bathsheba and Virtox sculptures and I love The Animaris Geneticus Parvus by Theo Jansen  

If you weren't limited by current technologies, what would you want to make using 3D printing?  I'd like to build everything with 3D printing. In particular I'd like to build a car.  

What do you do when you're not designing?

When I don't work, I like to spend much time with my girlfriend.  

Tech you couldn't live without?

My computer and an internet connection  

Favorite material?

Stainless Steel  

Most prized object?

a Ganesh sculpture bought in India  

Anarkik3D's 2 day course is an intensive for applied artists and creative people, focussing on what Anarkik 3D Design and 3D printing and how to use it to bring in revenue. 

Running from their offices in Edinburgh the course will give you a 'hands on' experience of Cloud9 for fluid and organic 3D designing and information on both 3D printing and marketing your 3d prints.

Join us in Brooklyn this week for the DFM Summit to discuss the future of manufacturing.

As mentioned in The Economist, creative communities, robotics and 3D printing are changing the face of manufacturing and many of those involved in making those changes will be at the DFM Summit to discuss these points.  Both Peter and Duann will be there along with Hod Lipson, John Jacobsen, Pamela Liou and more.