YouFab Global Creative Awards
2016 Winners

We are thrilled to announce the 23 winners of the YouFab Global Creative Awards 2016.
The winners were selected from 196 works from 31 countries.

The winning works will be displayed at Hikarie 8/ CUBE 1,2,3 (Tokyo) from March 8th to 19th, 2017.

icon GRAND PRIZE

OTON GLASS

OTON GLASS

By OTON GLASS Inc. (Japan)

OTON GLASS is a set of smart glasses designed to help dyslexic people to read words. The camera captures pictures of words that a user wants to read and reads out the words for the user via the earpiece.

icon FIRST PRIZE

Interfering Floating Bodies

Interfering Floating Bodies

By Team Interfering Floating Bodies (Japan)

We have believed soap bubbles pop and burst easily. ”Interfering Floating Bodies” is an installation that challenges the notion. Bubbles float in mid-air in the glass bowl without falling. The surrounding is reflected in the bubble’s surface on all angles, and the rainbow-colored interference patterns on the surface constantly change in alluring ways.

icon Yamaha AWARD

OTON GLASS (Yamaha Award)

OTON GLASS

By OTON GLASS Inc. (Japan)

OTON GLASS is a set of smart glasses designed to help dyslexic people to read words. The camera captures pictures of words that a user wants to read and reads out the words for the user via the earpiece.

icon STUDENT AWARD

IrukaTact: Submersible Haptic Glove

IrukaTact: Submersible Haptic Glove

By Aisen C. Chacin (Japan)

IrukaTact is a submersible haptic search glove that assists the location of sunken objects inspired by dolphin echolocation (Iruka in Japanese). The system detects the topography of flooded areas with an ultrasonic range finding sonar sensor that sends haptic signals to the wearer’s fingertips.

icon GENERAL AWARD

This New Technology – The World’s First Analog 3D Printer

This New Technology - The World's First Analog 3D Printer

By DANIEL DE BRUIN (Netherlands)

THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY - the World’s first analog 3D printer is an ironic foil to computerized 3D printers. 3D printing allows products to be created more swiftly and efficiently. However, these products are not made by hand.They are merely a product of popular digital 3D-printing technology.

JUDGES, COMMENTS

  • Luki Huber

    Hiroya Tanaka

    Professor at Keio University /
    Representative of SFC Social
    Fabrication Lab

    If we take the definition (or intended meaning) of Fab as the narrow definition of simply “using digital fabrication tools”, then we probably can’t expect to see any further significant developments in Fab as we now live in a time when the 3D printer and laser cutter have become fairly mainstream. Having said that, we are seeing a greater range of projects popping up around the world that are being created in areas where Fab facilities are located. Existing 3D printers and laser cutters are only one of the many Fab methods used today, and in fact almost every artwork and technology in the world such as homebuilt digital fabrication tools superior to currently marketed machine tools, circuit boards such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, and various new materials integrated with pre-existing handicrafts, are being employed and combined to make new creations. Amidst this landscape, we are once again urged to ask ourselves, “What is Fab?” If there is only one shared aspect among all the various projects, then it would be that they are all seeking a commonality and cooperation between the digital (information world) and the physical (physical world)”? My thoughts at the start of YouFab2016 were that this is the definition of Fab (at this current time) that we would like to put this definition out there. Then, through the contest, it became apparent once again that “the commonalities and collaboration between the digital (information world) and physical (physical world)” are not limited to the technology level only. For instance, in terms of the senses, how do digital lightness and physical weight coexist? And in terms of values, how do we bring together and make something from the “new” of the digital world and “old” elements that have been queried multiple times. Or, in terms of ideas, at what point should we stop the global data flow of the digital world and do away with the local geographical constraints of the physical world? The awards were filled with entries that attempted bring together direct opposites or contrasting elements such as these by making something. The most ideal form or the true worth of Fab is when this type of creativity and questioning (querying) is combined with exploring, experimenting and the process of trial and error on a daily basis. We have learnt to question how we make things, and unlike questioning on paper, if we practice the act of “making” and rethink the questions themselves as we go, it can spin out into something new and we can build relationships with others in the process. In that sense, Fab is a concept that demonstrates the reexamination of the “value of making” something, which differs from the act of “manufacturing”. And, we believe that the output that comes from using Fab is part of the creator themselves. For YouFab2016 we did away with the entry categories and I believe that this has added even more originality to the results this year. Fab still has a long future ahead of it. I think our most significant milestone this year was that Fab has transcended beyond its original definition of the 3D printer and laser cutter. Which leaves us with the question…what’s next for Fab?

  • Luke Yeung

    Natalia Arguello

    Consultant: Design + Tech +
    Entrepreneurship

    It has been an honor to be a judge of the YouFab competition 2016. It’s incredibly exciting to see the creativity and passion found at the intersection of Design, Art, and Tech. Events like this encourage and empower designers, with different levels of experience, to explore the possibilities of bringing solutions to life using new technologies and tools. Your yearly challenge will certainly enhance our design practice and community. Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

  • Luki Huber

    Nicolas Lassabe

    Co-founder of Artilect
    and Co-founder of ORCAS

    It was a pleasure for me to be a judge for YouFab 2016. This challenge is improving each year and I was again impressed by the quality of the presented projects and would like to congratulate all the participants for their creativity. YouFab shows that the Digital Fabrication is an opportunity for everyone to create and innovate. This challenge is the opportunity to show the results of the maker culture and how it is possible to produce things differently in a world where digital fabrication becomes more accessible for everyone. I hope this year’s YouFab will inspire more people to participate or simply do things by themselves.

  • Luke Yeung

    Singh Intrachooto

    Architect, Associate Professor
    at Kasetsart University,
    Design Principal of OSISU

    YouFab Global Creative Awards seems to go beyond digital fabrication. The entries this year have been so diverse and insightful that comparing them for awards was very challenging. As Neil Gershenfeld says in his book, “Fab” is not Fabrication but it should now stand for Fabulous! A lot of the works goes beyond a mere fabricating objects but they are knitting social structures with digital technologies; some in a scientific and engineering way while the other in a humanistic and spiritual way but they are all addressing our well being and curiosity. This YouFab platform is so fertile for innovative thinking about problem-solving and future technologies as it combines art, design, science and engineering in larger social contexts. Congratulations and I look forward to seeing more in the years to come.

  • Luke Yeung

    Kyle Li

    Program Director of
    BFA Design & Technology
    at Parsons School of Design

    Being a part of the judging process is a fantastic opportunity to see the cross cultural synergy in digital fabrication on a global scale. The maker culture has revolutionized the way things were made and international competitions like YouFab brought the cultural exchange into the mix which is an important catalyst to inspire out-of-the-box thinking. The definition of fab will continue to evolve with smarter and more intuitive tools and software embedded with artificial or augmented intelligences. As a result, the creative pipelines will become even more dynamic and efficient in the near future. Thanks for all the creativities and positive energy originated by the applicants of YouFab. Let’s return to our roots, give it some time to sink in, and continue our epic quest to future maker!

  • Seiichi Saito

    Yukiko Shikata

    Creative curator

    This entry really made me feel that Fab has matured, become more sophisticated and that we have entered into the era of Fab 2.0. I really noticed the complexity and organic nature, as well as the advanced tactile and smooth qualities. Some aspects that really stood out for me were the entries that involved garments (wearables), ecological aspects, barrier free topics and also the biomimicry. Fab is beginning to offer us a stage to virtually experience perceptions of people from widely different walks of life, perceptions and positions, and eventually even those beyond human beings. Fab can now be both dreamlike ideas as well as serve as a practical solution for social problems all at the same time. In terms of development, we are also seeing a lot more activity on open platforms, where experts from different specialty fields work together to release prototypes. At the same time, looking back to the origins of Fab, entries with humor and criticism really stand out. Across the board, we are also seeing a trend towards less art or hack type entries, and more products and industrial applications. This year there were a number of entries that stole the judges’ attention and overall the judging process was conducted rather smoothly. We also were pleased to receive so many original and diverse entries this year that were of a very high level, and the student entries in particular were of an exceptionally high standard.

  • Luke Yeung

    Natalia Arguello

    Consultant: Design + Tech +
    Entrepreneurship

    It has been an honor to be a judge of the YouFab competition 2016. It’s incredibly exciting to see the creativity and passion found at the intersection of Design, Art, and Tech. Events like this encourage and empower designers, with different levels of experience, to explore the possibilities of bringing solutions to life using new technologies and tools. Your yearly challenge will certainly enhance our design practice and community. Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

  • Luke Yeung

    Singh Intrachooto

    Architect, Associate Professor
    at Kasetsart University,
    Design Principal of OSISU

    YouFab Global Creative Awards seems to go beyond digital fabrication. The entries this year have been so diverse and insightful that comparing them for awards was very challenging. As Neil Gershenfeld says in his book, “Fab” is not Fabrication but it should now stand for Fabulous! A lot of the works goes beyond a mere fabricating objects but they are knitting social structures with digital technologies; some in a scientific and engineering way while the other in a humanistic and spiritual way but they are all addressing our well being and curiosity. This YouFab platform is so fertile for innovative thinking about problem-solving and future technologies as it combines art, design, science and engineering in larger social contexts. Congratulations and I look forward to seeing more in the years to come.

  • Seiichi Saito

    Yukiko Shikata

    Creative curator

    This entry really made me feel that Fab has matured, become more sophisticated and that we have entered into the era of Fab 2.0. I really noticed the complexity and organic nature, as well as the advanced tactile and smooth qualities. Some aspects that really stood out for me were the entries that involved garments (wearables), ecological aspects, barrier free topics and also the biomimicry. Fab is beginning to offer us a stage to virtually experience perceptions of people from widely different walks of life, perceptions and positions, and eventually even those beyond human beings. Fab can now be both dreamlike ideas as well as serve as a practical solution for social problems all at the same time. In terms of development, we are also seeing a lot more activity on open platforms, where experts from different specialty fields work together to release prototypes. At the same time, looking back to the origins of Fab, entries with humor and criticism really stand out. Across the board, we are also seeing a trend towards less art or hack type entries, and more products and industrial applications. This year there were a number of entries that stole the judges’ attention and overall the judging process was conducted rather smoothly. We also were pleased to receive so many original and diverse entries this year that were of a very high level, and the student entries in particular were of an exceptionally high standard.

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