We all have once observed the marvelous world around us as spectators, enjoying every exciting experience. However, have we ever had the opportunity to transcend the boundaries of observation and sketch out our own imagined, designed, and created lives? Looking back to March of this year, DKU Innovation Lab organized a workshop with the theme “Print out of the Box”, aiming to provide participants with a gateway from imagination to reality through the use of 3D printing.
This workshop not only featured diverse and engaging content but also incorporated creative practical exercises, broadening students’ understanding of 3D printing from multiple perspectives. The workshop began by focusing on 3D manufacturing and printing at DKU, introducing the relevant knowledge to students through popular science methods, further deepening their understanding of this field. At the same time, they were encouraged to engage in brainstorming actively, unleashing their creativity and crafting unique designs.
Through hands-on 3D printing modeling, students had the opportunity to transform their design outcomes into tangible objects. This process sparked their creativity and imagination, allowing them to experience the marvelous journey of turning ideas into reality. Through this workshop, students could personally feel and touch their creative achievements, providing them with an unprecedented sense of accomplishment.
Furthermore, this workshop not only provided participants with learning opportunities in technology and knowledge but, more importantly, awakened their passion for creation and design. Students deeply realized that life is not just about observation and enjoyment but something we can shape and create with our own hands. This workshop opened a door for students to infinite possibilities, guiding them to discover the power of creativity and transform imagination into reality.
Next, the activity venue shifted from the DKU campus to the China 3D-Printing Cultural Museum, where the students were guided to explore different materials and technologies, immersing themselves in the diversity and high versatility of 3D printing. Toward the end of the museum visit, the students participated in an activity called “3D Printing Pen.” This activity provided them with a tangible experience of the design process and mode of additive manufacturing using a 3D printing pen.
Within the given time constraints, the students collaborated around intriguing real-life scenarios. They successfully designed a series of works on the whiteboard, including “Puppy Model”, “Minecraft Character Chess Piece”, “Creative Space-Saving Computer Stand”, and “Customized Reinforcement Parts”. These creations showcased their collaborative achievements fueled by creativity and imagination.
During the subsequent sharing session, the students demonstrated their boundless creative thinking, unique understanding of design, and profound reflections. For instance, they drew inspiration from the block-like aesthetics of the “Minecraft” game to simplify the design of the puppy model. They also incorporated space-saving and aesthetically pleasing curved forms instead of traditional arm supports. These innovative approaches demonstrated their ability to think outside the box and infuse their designs with imaginative elements.
Following the conceptual construction, the lab team provided the students with detailed modeling guidance, enabling them to translate their “inspirations on paper” into computer-generated models that could be brought to life. Beginning with fundamental page operations and processing to a wide array of model operations, they employed software such as Fusion 360 or AutoCAD to lay a solid foundation for the students’ modeling skills and prepare them for subsequent practical implementation.
Meanwhile, the lab team actively addressed the students’ personalized questions and shared numerous interesting and practical “tips and tricks”. Through the process of “trying out, encountering challenges, and contemplating solutions”, the students not only acquired proficiency in 3D modeling skills but also cherished an invaluable and unforgettable immersive experience.
The primary objective of the 3D Printing Workshop was to ignite the student’s ability to break free from conventional thinking and cultivate their creativity and practical skills. The students enthusiastically expressed their feedback at the conclusion of the event, remarking, “I never realized that 3D printing had such a vast range of applications” and “I never imaged I would have the opportunity to transform my ideas into tangible reality.” These sentiments precisely align with the workshop’s goal, which aimed to empower even those students who possessed limited prior knowledge of 3D printing to leverage innovative thinking for a more profound perception of the world and the exploration of their imagination. Moreover, the lab team aspires for this workshop to raise awareness among more students regarding the abundant resources provided by DKU Innovation Lab and its unwavering commitment to nurturing every creative passion.
