Unique 3D-Printed Shoes Made in Zlín Earn Success beyond the Borders of the Czech Republic
3. May 2024Students of the Footwear Design Studio of the Faculty of Multimedia Communications (FMC) of Tomas Bata University in Zlín (TBU), in cooperation with 3Dees Industries, have created 9 pairs of unique shoes, with soles made by using the powder 3D printing method. For the Sole&Shoe Crafters 3D project, the Zlín-based Footwear Design Studio has already earned success in an international contest.
Students enrolled on the Master’s programme in Shoe Design were given the task of designing the visual aspect of shoes and creating special soles in cooperation with technologists from 3Dees Industries. “All students were creating wearable pairs of shoes for their own size so that they could test the properties of the material on themselves. The powder 3D printing method is suitable both for so-called rapid prototyping, which enables rapid prototyping used to test the designer’s design before it goes into production, as well as for the subsequent production of final functional models,” explains Lucie Trejtnarová, Head of the Footwear Design Studio of the FMC of TBU in Zlín.
“Educating of next generations and sharing of technological know-how is crucial for the development of the 3D printing industry, therefore, we are happy to have an opportunity to pass on our experience to students as part of this special project,” says František Hůla, Application Engineer at 3Dees Industries. At the same time, he adds that, at the beginning, it was quite difficult for the students to convert their ideas into a precise specification for the manufacturer. The preparation of data and the transformation of an idea into a product design are precisely those the key skills which the students have acquired during their teamwork.
The student project entitled “Sole&Shoe Crafters 3D” was entered by the Head of the Footwear Design Studio, Lucie Trejtnarová, in the international 3D Pioneers Challenge competition, which rewards innovative projects related to the use of 3D printing. An expert jury selected the projects, which, thus, advanced to the final round, and, thanks to this success, Zlín-based pairs of shoes will be on display at an exhibition scheduled to be held in Erfurt, Germany, in May. The winner will be announced on the closing night, to take place on 15 May 2024.
“During the implementation of the project involving students, we chose the Hewlett Packard’s MJF technology, which is one of the few that can produce flexible and durable products, thus being suitable for the production of designer shoes. At present, this technology is the closest to being used in the serial production of special soles,” says Adam Řehák, Application Engineer at 3Dees Industries, adding that, thanks to the use of additive technologies in footwear production, it is also possible to effectively fulfil the requirements for healthy walking when designing shoes. “Thanks to simple customization, shoe manufacturers can destroy myths and produce shoes which have better ergonomic properties, are adapted to the shape of the foot and to the clients’ needs, and, at the same time, look great,” adds Adam Řehák.
Every year, the Faculty of Multimedia Communications of TBU in Zlín cooperates with business and industrial companies on the implementation of various projects. For more than 20 years, the Faculty has been educating designers, filmmakers, photographers, and experts in communication and arts management – graduates who can, thanks to career-oriented degree programmes, gain valuable experience before starting their own careers.