David Tobin has unleashed a 3D printed shoe design, and this might change everything.
3D printed shoes have been a thing for many years. I recall first seeing 3D printed shoes at a 3D event well over ten years ago, but at that time and until recently the idea of 3D printed shoes was really a science project.
Well, things have certainly changed. Technology and materials have improved, and it’s now possible to actually 3D print a wide range of shoes.
One company has leveraged the technology changes into a rapidly growing business: Zellerfeld. The German firm has essentially created a print-on-demand custom 3D printed shoe operation. They’ve tuned the machines and materials to crank out shoes continuously.
But prints are only possible if there is a 3D design to send to the machine. To that end, Zellerfeld has developed quite a catalog of shoe designs, some of which are very radical. In all cases, the shoes are printed in dimensions to perfectly match the customer, who simply needs to send in some basic measurements.
That’s all quite interesting, but what Tobin has done opens up some future possibilities. Tobin worked directly with Zellerfled to create a unique 3D printable shoe design Tobin calls the “D7”. He explains what they are about:
“These shoes are not just for fun and fashion, but function. I wanted to use additive to do things regular shoes cannot. The mesh design you see is 100% functional. It allows air flow into the shoe and venting. You can’t see from these images, but the inside has a geometry, that when compressed, circulates air as well.
To add to the functionality, they had to be able to do everything, including handle a skateboard. I love to skate still and am on a board when I can. These have a built up interior element to prevent ollie holes from forming right away. They are also designed to let the board slide easier as you do the tricks with that part of the foot.”
They are indeed an attractive looking set of footwear, and I’m sure they will sell quite well.
But think about this: when was the last time you heard of someone creating their own shoe design? Up to now shoe design has been done only by specialized designers at Nike, Adidas, etc., who use traditional methods to create their products.
Here we have someone who isn’t necessarily a shoe expert, but was able, with the help of Zellerfeld, to create a footwear product that anyone, anywhere can purchase — with a guaranteed fit.
I believe that is a significant milestone in manufacturing. If Tobin can do this, how many others might be interested in trying out unique shoe designs? Could this become an on-demand shoe marketplace where people become shoe designers and make careers from the proceeds?
And if this works for shoes, what other items could it work for?
The D7 now appears at Zellerfeld, if you’d like to order one yourself.
Via Zellerfeld
