Timed with the upcoming release of the iPhone 6s, the Lithuania-based 3D modeling marketplace CGTrader is holding a competition to 3D print accessories for Apple’s latest version of their smartphone. Their Apple 6s Accessories Challenge is a call to the 3D design community to utilize their skills to produce phone cases, stands, and other accessories for one of the most commercialized products on the planet.
CGTrader was founded in 2011 by designer Marius Kalytis with the purpose of creating a design-driven community for 3D Makers and artists to share and sell their models. CGTrader’s goal is to connect 3D designers with a viable customer base, creating a marketplace where consumers can purchase 3D printed projects or even hire the community’s 3D designers to work on a custom job. Regular contests are an added bonus for the community, giving designers a way to showcase their designs while potentially taking home prizes.
The Apple 6s Accessories Challenge, started today on September 16th, is currently accepting 3D designed submissions up until November 10th, 2015. CGTrader is offering the contest winner five free sales of their 3D printed iPhone accessory, promotional features by CGTrader, along with other goodies. Participation is completely free of charge, which falls in line with the open community platform CGTrader has worked towards building. The submissions will be judged by a panel of CGTrader staff members on three separate merits: the quality of the model, the uniqueness achieved within the accessory, and, also, by how clear and attractive the presentation of the submission is.
All the contestant has to do to enter the competition is upload their own custom 3D model and CGTrader will provide the platform to both sell and copyright the submitted model. With the iPhone 6s being released on September 25th, CGTrader wants the members of their 3D design community to take advantage of this commercial opportunity and potentially make some profit off of their innovative designs.
There is certainly a market for these 3D printed iPhone accessories and CGTrader wants to connect these Makers and designers with Apple’s mainstream audience. The customizability and uniqueness behind 3D printing will allow consumers to browse freshly designed iPhone accessories that no other marketplace carries, which, in turn, will give contestants a great opportunity to turn their design into a profitable endeavor. Although the Apple 6s Accessories Challenge is a contest at heart, what CGTrader is really accomplishing here is the connecting of 3D designers with the commercial market, giving any one with the Maker spirit an opportunity to turn innovation into profit.
I wasn’t thrilled with “the specs” for the phone. Wouldn’t a CAD file with the base shape be better to build from than 3 illustrated dimensions? Surely the phone as rads, indents and the entire device is not the same thickness all the way along. Whats the distance to buttons? etc. If I’m going make a tight fitting case or accessory I’d like it to fit, well… tight. So really what this challenge contains are two tasks – make a CAD of the phone first and then make the accessory based on that.
Is there a copyright issue in providing a model to work from?