3D printing parametric textiles

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Course features

  • 4 days in Barcelona

  • Level: Intermediate
    Maximum 6 participants

  • Study time: 32 hours total
Course overview
One way to 3D print footwear really fast is to create the upper as a flat textile and then stitch it together. 
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In fact, 3D printing offers options for textiles that are not possible with any other technology, especially in combination with parametric design software such as Grasshopper.
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Combining this with different slicer settings and a variety of materials opens up an endless range of design opportunities, both in terms of aesthetics and performance. This course allows you to explore these in-depth and is suitable for all kinds of designers, not just footwear designers.
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This masterclass is part of our Footwearise Festival. If you are joining the Footwearise conference and exhibition on December 2 and 3, you get a 10% discount on this course with code FOOTWEARISE. We have only 6 spots available!

Course format

Printing a full shoe might take more than 20 hours, but printing a textile is usually only a few layers and can be done in less than one hour or even in a matter of minutes. Flexible 3D printing materials can be stitched together - or you could create a modular system if you would rather not stitch - so you can still create a full upper, a bag, apparel etc.

In this Masterclass we are exploring the options that 3D printing brings to textiles. Instead of just printing them as a flat 2-dimensional structure, like a regular weave or knit, we are using Grasshopper to create new textiles that are truly 3-dimensional, combining performance and aesthetics. We then also explore how those 3D textiles could work around a 3D shape.
This class is not meant for absolute beginners. It is especially helpful if you already have some experience in Grasshopper or other procedural parametric software. 

You do not necessarily need experience in 3D printing, we will teach you all you need. In this Masterclass we will be using affordable 3D printers that have a large build plate and are specifically suitable for textiles, so you can apply everything you learn in this course in your own practice without having to make a huge investment.

You will learn tips and tricks that were developed by our own experts so you are not able to get this knowledge anywhere else.
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Class schedule

Day 1
December 4
10:00 - 18:00 CET

  • Introduction to 3D printed textiles, reviewing samples and 3D printing materials (filaments and pellets)
  • Introduction to Grasshopper for textile design
Day 2
December 5
10:00 - 18:00 CET

  • introduction to slicing
  • slicing your first textiles
  • printing your first textiles
  • making adjustments or new designs based upon your first prints
Day 3
December 6
10:00 - 18:00 CET

  • wrapping parametric textiles around a 3D shape using Grasshopper
  • printing a slice of your 3D shape as a test
  • slicing and printing a full 3D shape
Day 4
December 7
10:00 - 17:00 CET

  • experimenting with more textile designs using different plugins
  • creating complex multi-material textiles on the Ultimaker Factor 4
  • Final presentation of textiles made by each participant
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Meet your instructors:

Lorenzo is an absolute expert in parametric design and has been working with Footwearology for many years already, since he also teaches our online Rhino and Grasshopper courses. Currently he is the cofounder of Supermateria, a company based in Florence, born to combine design, additive manufacturing and other new technologies, in order to create tools to serve companies.

Rasoul has been with Footwearology since the beginning of 2024, when he came in to do a graduation project about 3D printing textiles for his university in Hannover. He enjoyed this so much and had such great results that he stayed on to develop himself even further in this field. He is looking forward to sharing his findings and is eager to inspire others with his work.

Course details

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Included

  • 4 days of training in Barcelona 
  • 3D printing materials by Recreus
  • slicing profiles specific to textiles
  • certificate

Excluded

  • travel to our lab in Barcelona
  • accommodation in Barcelona
  • lunch and diner


You will need to bring your own laptop (PC or Mac) and have Rhino 8 and Grasshopper installed. You will also need the latest version of Cura.
It is highly recommended to have a mouse!
The course takes places at Footwearology Lab, Carrer d´Espronceda 103, 08005 Barcelona. Phone +34 698978484
Footwearology is the only academy for footwear professionals. We enable you to gain the knowledge that will get you, and the companies you work for, ready to create and embrace a better future. All our courses take place online and/or in our LAB in Barcelona, Spain.

Besides teaching, we do research and consulting, focusing on redesigning the entire footwear supply chain by directly connecting technology suppliers, creatives and social media platforms.

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