Last year, I shared about one of my favorite desktop 3D printing educators and curriculum developers, the incredibly talented Liz Arum, and I followed up with her this year for her nomination of another “Ada” in the 3D space. She introduced me to Lauren Lacey Slowik, and I have been getting to know her work and portfolio online.
From her site 3DIY.cc, featuring 3D-printed furniture hacks, one of her stealthy strategies for getting 3D printers into every home in the world:
3DIY is an exploration into the range of functions that a consumer 3D printer can perform. It takes shape as an Ikea furniture hacking kit. A DIY system in a sense, the Ikea build‑it‑yourself environment is the perfect opportunity to introduce a functional scenario to the consumer 3D printer repertoire. 3DIY will be distributed as a 3D model plugin download. Not unlike how home sewers learn to sew from patterns the design plugins will introduce the user to 3D hacking with projects that are easy, medium and difficult. Rapid customization is what makes 3D printers subvert their own purpose amid a world of exactitude and replication. When a consumer 3D printer is employed at the DIY design level the machine rejects the built-in implication of efficiency and replicability in favor of the idiosyncratic and personal.
Lauren has contributed technology and design expertise to organizations such as Apple, MoMA, the UN, the Ms. Foundation, and Etsy.com. She is the Designer Evangelist – Education at Shapeways.com. Her work is focused on consumer 3D printing and the future of creativity in education. She lives in Brooklyn, NY. Canny Technologist, Savvy Luddite.
October 15th is Ada Lovelace Day! Today the world celebrates all of the accomplishments of women in science, art, design, technology, engineering, and math. Each year, Adafruit highlights a number of women who are pioneering their fields and inspiring women of all ages to make their voices heard. Today we will be sharing the stories of women that we think are modern day “Adas”. We will also be referencing women from history that have made impacts in science and math, so keep an eye on these footers for more inspirational women!
Today everything in the Adafruit store is 10% off, just use the code ALD13 on checkout! Today’s the perfect day to spark the imagination of a future “Ada” with a gift from the Adafruit store!