Sole&Shoe Crafters 3D

Zlín – Students of the Shoe Design Studio at the Faculty of Multimedia Communications, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, in cooperation with 3Dees Industries, have created nine pairs of unique shoes with soles made using powder 3D printing technology. The Sole&Shoe Crafters 3D project has already earned the Zlín shoe design studio its first success in an international competition.

Master’s students in the Shoe Design program were tasked with designing the shoes’ appearance and, in collaboration with technologists from 3Dees Industries, created special soles. “All students designed wearable shoes in their own size so they could test the material characteristics themselves. Powder 3D printing is suitable for rapid prototyping, which allows fast creation of prototypes to test a designer’s concept before production, as well as for manufacturing final functional models,” explains Lucie Trejtnarová, head of the Shoe Design Studio at the Faculty of Multimedia Communications, Tomas Bata University in Zlín.

“Educating future generations and sharing technological know-how is essential for the development of the 3D printing industry, and we are glad to have been able to pass on our experience to students through this special project,” says František Hůla, application engineer at 3Dees Industries. He also adds that at first, it was quite challenging for students to turn their ideas into precise instructions for manufacturers. Data preparation and transforming an idea into a product design are key skills that students mastered during their collaborative work.

The Sole&Shoe Crafters 3D student project was submitted by Lucie Trejtnarová to the international 3D Pioneers Challenge competition, which recognizes innovative projects involving 3D printing. The expert jury selected the project as a finalist, and as a result, the Zlín shoes will be part of an exhibition in Erfurt, Germany, in May. The winner will be announced at the final event on May 15, 2024.

“For the project, we selected Hewlett Packard’s MJF technology, one of the few that can produce flexible and durable products, making it suitable for designing footwear. Currently, this technology is the closest to being deployed for series production of special soles,” adds Adam Řehák, application engineer at 3Dees Industries. He also notes that additive technologies in shoemaking can effectively connect footwear design with healthy walking requirements. “With simple customization, footwear manufacturers can break myths and offer shoes that better fulfill ergonomic functions, are adapted to the shape of the foot and clients’ needs, while still looking great,” adds Adam Řehák.

The Faculty of Multimedia Communications at Tomas Bata University in Zlín collaborates with companies on various projects each year. For over 20 years, it has been training designers, filmmakers, photographers, and communication and arts management experts – graduates who gain valuable experience through hands-on study before starting their careers.

Authors' Names:
Pavel Ochonský
Silvie Gajdůšková
Magda Křižková
Amálie Magdalena Mlčochová
Kristína Hergovičová
Michaela Koreňová
Katarína Nemcová
Barbora Olejníčková
Supervision: Lucie Trejtnarová

About 3Dees Industries
3Dees Industries is a leading provider of additive technologies with global reach. With a long-standing background in 3D printing and 3D scanning, the company actively develops innovations and pushes the boundaries of the additive industry. 3Dees Industries represents prestigious companies such as Zeiss, Stratasys, DyeMansion, Sintratec, and Hewlett Packard. Currently, the company operates primarily in the Czech and Slovak Republics and Ukraine.