Projects
Click on a project below to find out more
Queen Bee 3d printed fashion that explores the boundaries of digital design and eastern tradition.
QUEEN BEE
The 3d Qipao, or traditional Chinese dress, serves as the center piece for DeFacto’s HIVE pavilion at Parkview Green (FangCaoDi), for Beijing Design Week 2015. Featuring a 3D Printed nylon top, the design is envisioned as modular fashion accessory which alternates between dresses.
For the creation of the piece, the user is first 3d Scanned ensuring the best fit for maximum comfort. After the scan is completed the upper portion of the dress is digitally modelled in a 3-dimensional design software and a custom pattern is created. For Queen Bee, a honeycomb inspired pattern forms the texture and overall aesthetic of the 3D Printed piece and ties the innovative garment to its architectural counterpart, the HIVE Pavilion. Utilizing parametric design tools, variations are made in the honeycomb pattern resulting in a one of a kind fashion accessory that is both elegant and novel.
Partners: Dazzle 3D 大业, Hanep Creative Studio
Material: white nylon (3d print) and 100% silk
Production process: SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D printing
Guinness World Record
Largest 3D Printed Structure
Weighing in at 1.87 tons of bio-plastic, standing at a towering 4 meters, with a diameter of 11 meters, the Rise Pavilion was awarded the Guinness World Record's Largest 3D Printed Structure on August 20, 2016.
DeFacto is constantly trying to challenge design and fabrication norms. The Rise Pavilion is no exception. Constructed with over five thousand 3D printed biodegradable polymer blocks, the pavilion features a modular and transformable design. The Poly-Blocks' Lego-like connection system gives it versatility, not only in form, but also in function. Individually the Poly-Block functions as a vessel for lamps, plants, and even humidifiers.
After the competition, each Rise student will receive a Poly-Block to further explore its up-cycling potentials. The design team’s goal with the Rise Pavilion was to create an interactive structure that inspires young minds to think about design within the context of the environment, encouraging a shift towards multi-functional and environmentally friendly goods.
Partners: Rise Education, Edelman, UCRobotics, PolyMaker, Hanep Creative Studio
Material: PolyMaker's PolyPlus Filament
Production Process: 3D Printing
For more information download our media kit here.
Lion of St. Marks
Solid Isomalt Sculpture for Italian Embassy of Beijing
The three-dimensional stunning sculpture of the famous Lion of St. Marks is part of a long term collaboration between La Galleria and Defacto which explores the relationship between 3d printing and food. The Lion of St. Marks sculpture is created with Isomalt, a sugar substitute popular used in the culinary arts because of its durability. Created by way of 3d printing, in conjunction with traditional mold making and casting techniques, the resulting piece is a solid sculpture representing a historic symbol. The Lion Sculpture is on display at the Italian Embassy of Beijing, China.
Partners: La Galleria
Material: Isomalt sugar
Production process: five-part process including 3d printing in conjunction with traditional molding and casting techniques
Based on original artwork by Xu Lei, Tree of Blue Underglaze, 2008
ISOMALT HORSE
The three-dimensional re-creation of Tree of Blue Underglaze by Chinese artist Xu Lei, is part of a long term collaboration between La Galleria and Defacto which explores the relationship between digital media, specifically 3d printing and food. The Horse sculpture is created with Isomalt -- a sugar substitute popular used in the culinary arts -- and is custom made to the specifications of the artist’s work. Created by way of 3d printing, in conjunction with traditional mold making and casting techniques, the resulting piece is a thin-shell, translucent structure which is filled with blueberries and jam, reflecting the artists use of blue ink for his internationally recognized artwork. The Horse Sculpture was presented to artist Xu Lei during a private art event in Beijing, China.
Partners: La Galleria
Material: Isomalt sugar
Production process: five-part process including 3d printing in conjunction with traditional molding and casting techniques
HIVE
3D printed Pavilion for Beijing Design Week 2015
Hive is a lightweight, low-cost and easily assembled structure designed for Beijing Design Week at Parkview Green. Utilizing standardized wood members and custom 3d printed connectors HIVE aims at maximizing material efficiency by doing more with less. The Pavilion features a hexagonal space-frame structure which is inspired by high-strength geometrical patterns found in nature.
Partners: Tiertime Technologies Inc.
Material: Polylactic acid (PLA, bio-degradable polymer) and wood
Production process: FDM (Fused deposition modeling) 3D Printing
NEW VISION SHADES
Redirecting UV radiation
Can eyewear respond to some of the environmental threats found in our atmosphere? Can eyewear actually improve eye health over the duration of their use? And what role, if any, does 3D-Printing and CAD play in the design of contemporary eyewear?
One of the threats today is human exposure to UV radiation. NVshades act as a screen for the eyes which redirect omnidirectional lighting from the sun away from the user’s retina, the most sensitive area of the eye. NVshades is eyewear that contains no glass, no hardware, and is made of a single continuous frame.
By removing the traditional glass lens we have to rethink the relationship between transparency and vision. The result, we believe offers a new framework to the future of eyewear and perhaps more importantly provides a fresh take on eyewear today. 3D Printing technology is central to the design of NewVision shades. NV shades allow for a continuous single-body design, all made possible by additive manufacturing. 3D printing allows us to control various parameters such as varying material thickness, which ultimately impact the amount of omnidirectional lighting protection as well as the overall flexibility of the spectacles. The result, we believe is a merger between style and function, combining the benefits of healthcare or products of well-being with art and fashion.
Material: white nylon
Production process: SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D printing
CES MODULAR WALL
Partners: Tiertime Technologies Co. 太尓时代
Material: PLA and ABS Polymers
Production process: FDM (Fused deposition modeling) 3D Printing
3D PRINTED CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
White House Competition Finalist
Originally designed for the White House Christmas Tree, The Christmas State of Mind Ornament pays homage to American History by celebrating Presidential Christmas messages shared throughout time. The design is currently on display in the East Wing of the White House and is part of a small collection of White House Ornaments in the political history wing of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
The ornament reads, "Christmas is a state of mind. It is found throughout the year whenever faith overcomes doubt, hope conquers despair, and love triumphs over hate." — Ronald Reagan
Material: Coloured nylon, metal, resin
Production process: SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), 3D printing
3D CLOUDS
Partners: Tiertime Technologies Co. 太尓时代
Material: Polylactic acid (PLA, bio-degradable polymer)
Production process: FDM (Fused deposition modeling) 3D printing
Planter Series #1
Partners: Tiertime Technologies Co. 太尓时代, Hanep Creative Studio
Material: Polylactic acid (PLA, bio-degradable polymer)
Production process: FDM (Fused deposition modeling) 3D printing
BESPOKE FOOD DESIGN
Partners: La Galleria
Material: Resin, various foods
Production process: FDM (Fused deposition modeling) 3D Printing in conjunction with traditional molding, casting and resin sculpting techniques
Poly-Block
After-Use and Up-Cycling
Following up on the success of the Guinness Pavilion Structure, the Poly-Blocks were distributed amongst Rise Students as part of the Rise Cup competition. Designed for re-use each Poly-Block functions as a vessel for lamps, planters, and humidifiers. Poly-Blocks can be connected together to form a center-piece for living spaces or offices.
Partners: Rise Education, Edelman, UCRobotics, PolyMaker, Hanep Creative Studio
Material: PolyMaker's PolyPlus Filament
Production Process: 3D Printing
