The Stratasys Extreme Redesign Challenge 2019 edition is now taking entries

October is known for a few things: autumnal foliage, Halloween and—of course—the launch of Stratasys’ annual Extreme Redesign Challenge. The contest, which has been sponsored by Stratasys for the past 15 years, aims to promote the use of 3D printing for reinventing and radically redesigning existing objects.

Hosted in collaboration with GrabCAD, the Extreme Redesign Challenge 2019 edition is now in full swing and students of any university, college, secondary or post-secondary school from across the globe are invited to participate. Redesign entries can be submitted by an individual or as a group.

This year, there are three main categories that students are encouraged to create within: Engineering (for secondary students), Engineering (for post-secondary students), and Art, Jewelry & Architecture (open to any grade level). The broad categories don’t limit the imagination too much, which is apparent when looking at winning projects from previous years.

In last year’s redesign challenge, for instance, the post-secondary education Engineering category awarded first place to an Arm Cast project from the University of Alamaba, while second place went to students from Ryerson University for a 3D printed fender lock. The sky is the limit.

In terms of prizes, the Stratasys-sponsored challenge awards the top ten teams in each category a 3D printed model of their design and a Stratasys apparel item. First prize winners are awarded a $2,500 scholarship as well as limited-time access to a classroom 3D printer, while second place winners are gifted with a $1,000 scholarship.

If you’re a student and you think you have an innovative idea for something that can be redesigned thanks to 3D modeling and 3D printing technologies, simply submit an STL file of your design to Stratasys’ GrabCAD challenge platform for judging. Note that your model will be evaluated for a number of things, including mechanical design, design creativity, product usefulness and aesthetics.

Finally, here are some notable dates to jot down in your calendar if you’re looking to participate in the Extreme Redesign Challenge this year:

• February 23, 2019: all entries must be submitted
• April 2019: finalists will be announced
• May 2019: winners will be announced