DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
: The idea is to create 3D printed fabric as well as modular tie design platform capable of supporting thousands of variations.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
: To create digital fabric that meets some key characteristics of textile: thin, light, flexible, strong, durable, quiet, wrinkle-free.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
: Over two years.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
: I wanted to showcase capabilities of 3D printing, specifically FDM technology.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
: I produce it myself and sell at http://3dtie.com.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
: Men who want to stand out in the crowd
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
: High quality of the digital fabric
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
: The name is purely functional: 3D tie
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
: PTC Creo.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
: The fabric.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
: This design is a showcase for the FDM technology of 3D Printing.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
: There was a myriad of challenges in making the 3d printable models, which could be printed on a desktop printer with repeatable quality, in detailing and meeting the requirements for "the digital fabric to behave like textile", in making the tie easy to put on, take off, and adjust, etc.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
: I learned about the competition from the makers of 3dshoe.com.