online course - LEVEL: All

AI for 3D printing

3 live classes on June 4, 6 and 11

This is THE online course for anyone who wants to print wearable shoes, but is not able to join us in Barcelona for the classes at our own lab. This is a beginner course that is also suitable for people that do not have any 3D design experience yet. But of course, you can also join if you do have 3D design skills and make your project even more interesting!

This online workshop consists of 3 live online workshops in which we will teach you how 3D printing (FDM) works, how you can design for it and how you could use a fast and easy combination of 2D and 3D AI to create your 3D models.

We will use very affordable 3D printers  - that range from 200 to 500 euros - so you can purchase the printer of your choice and print your own shoes.  The printer is not included in the course price, since we know everyone will have different preferences and some of you might already own a printer or have access to a printing lab. Upon registration you will receive a list of recommendations for printers, so you can check which ones are available in your area and for your budget.

Of course we will also advise you on materials, so you can understand which filament is best for your design. In the course we will use Filaflex and Foamy by Recreus.

This course is sponsored by:

Would you join a live class around this visual forecast that talks about the technology behind the Yeezy Foam Runner and how this could evolve into the future? Leave your email below to receive an invitation!
Here is an example of two shoes created with the AI workflow and then 3D printed in Filaflex Foamy material, which is very soft and lightweight. Soon we will launch more Foamy colors together with Recreus, but in this case we dyed the shoes. This is also something we can teach you in the course.
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Course format

During three live classes of three hours each, we will take you through a full workflow to create 3D printed shoes using AI applications. The classes are as interactive as possible, but some things we can only demonstrate online - such as the slicing and the printing - and you will have to replicate them yourself. This is also why we recommend that you join the classes live - even though they will be recorded - so you can ask all your questions. 

There will be homework for Class 2, since this is when you create your design. This is why we planned extra days between Class 2 and 3. If you have your 3D design ready before class 3, then you can immediately apply the slicing settings to your file. 

Please note that creating shoes in 3D using AI still has its limitations, especially when it comes to creating fine details. Please do not expect that you will be able to make highly complex designs without having any experience in 3D modeling. This course is meant to get you started with 3D printing wearable shoes by yourself. If you want to professionalize further after this then we recommend following one of our 3D modeling courses.

Course Content (only accessible for participants)

What do you need to join this course?

These things are not included in the course price!

Computer

  • Laptop or desktop - a tablet might not be powerful enough - either PC or Mac
  • Mouse
  • Pen tablet (optional, but recommended for finetuning your designs)

3D printer

FDM 3D printer that works with filament and has direct drive, or you should have access to such a printer. We will share a list of suitable 3D printers when you register. When in doubt if your printer is suitable, just send us a description, brand and picture at info@footwearology.com

3D Printing Material

We recommend Filaflex 82A and Foamy by Recreus, but we will give you a full overview of materials in the course, so you can purchase what you need in time for the printing.

Software

Most of this software is free, except for Midjourney which starts from $10 per month. We recommend taking a monthly subscription that you can cancel at anytime.

Midjourney
Leonardo
Adobe Photoshop Beta (or latest full version)
Blender
Cura
Prusa Slicer
Ideamaker

A digital shoe last. We can provide you with a sneaker last that you can change to your size. If you want to work with a specific style we can give you a list of resources where to buy them. Please note that making high heels is not recommended in this course!

Course Schedule

Class 1: Design for 3D printing

tuesday, june 4, 7-10pm cet
  • How does (FDM) 3D printing work?
  • What type of printer is suitable for footwear?
  • How can different aspects of the printer affect the end result?
  • Why would you want to 3D print footwear?
  • What are the main opportunities and challenges when designing shoes that need to printed?
  • What are the best materials for printing footwear?
  • How can you keep your materials in good condition?

Class 2: AI design workflow

Thursday, june 6, 7-10pm cet
  • Which digital last will you use for your design (we can provide one)?
  • Where to get digital lasts?
  • How does generative AI work?
  • How to best create a prompt for a shoe that needs to be 3D printed?
  • How to design printable shoes in 2D in Midjourney?
  • How to adjust your 2D design in Leonardo?
  • How to clean up your final design using Adobe Photoshop AI?
  • How to translate your design from 2D to 3D in AI?
  • How to easily adjust your 3D mesh in Blender and subtract the last?

Class 3: Slicing and Printing

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 7-10PM CET
  • What is slicing software?
  • Which are the most used FDM slicers for printing footwear?
  • How can slicing determine the aesthetics and properties of your print?
  • How to slice your model?
  • How to adjust, create or block supports?
  • How to create different slicer settings for different parts of the shoe?
  • How to prepare your printer for printing?
  • What are common issues that could lead to failed prints?
  • How to remove supports and clean up your prints?

It will not be the first time for us to run this workshop, but it will be the first time to run it online. Below you see images of previous workshops using the AI workflow, one at EKA (the arts academy of Estonia) and one at our own lab in Barcelona. Please check the pictures below.

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Meet your instructor

Nicoline van Enter

Nicoline van Enter is one of the founders of Footwearology and Footwearology Lab. She is a world-renowned technology forecaster and visionary thinker, working for tech builders and brands around the world. She has been printing wearable shoes since 2012 and has been consulting with several brands that make printed footwear, such as Feetz, Zellerfeld, Fused Footwear and Adidas.
Nico will be assisted by our in-house 3D printing team.
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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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