Growing the next generation of creators!

While lowering costs and growing material range has allowed 3D Printing to grow in popularity over the past few years, the future of the industry may lie in the hands of our schoolchildren as the industry and government alike seek create a generation of creators.

Last October the UK Department of Education revealed a pilot project which would allow 21 state secondary schools to use 3D Printers across the curriculum with the aim to encourage students to embrace the design process and better equip them with the engineering an design skills required by employers. Following the overall success of the pilot and a significant overhaul of the UK education system it appears that the UK Government is committed to developing the creative skills of the future UK workforce with children as young as five learning key design skills while secondary school students will learn how to use 3D Printers as part of the Design & Technology curriculum.  With further changes to the educational system to include electronic design and computer coding it is likely that we will see these very students tweaking existing 3D Printers to create more user friendly models as they become more accustomed to both design and 3D Printing technology.

In addition to the UK Governments focus on developing the creative minds of the future the 3D Printing industry itself is seeking to facilitate the further expansion of this growing pool of young creators. 3D Printer manufacturers such as Builder, specifically targeting the education system with their 3D Printer range, while the leading 3D Printing Event in the UK and Ireland, TCT Show + Personalize has placed education at the heart of their exhibition for the second year running with the hugely successful programme TCT Bright Minds UK. This years programme which is sponsored by industry leaders such as 3D Systems and Black County Atelier (BCA), will see over 500 schoolchildren gain real hands on experience with design tools and 3D Printing technologies through free two hour workshops.

TCT Show + Personalize, takes place at the NEC Birmingham from the 30th of September to the 2nd of October, not just for schoolchildren this industry leading event will provide access to a wide range of 3D Printing Manufacturers and Rapid Prototyping Service bureaus  with a range of keynote sessions aimed at helping companies and individuals get the most out of product development technologies. Register now for your free visitor pass.

Interested in finding out more about Rapid Prototyping & Additive Manufacturing services? Visit the longest established Rapid Prototyping and Additive Manufacturing service bureau, LPE at stand H14.