"The Cryptide Sneaker" by Stephan Henrich
German designer & architect Stephan Henrich created a fully 3D printed shoe called “The Cryptide”. The creature-like footwear is specifically designed to be laser sintered on the Sintratec S2 System with flexible TPE material.
A fully 3D printed Shoe
“The Cryptide” consists of a sole with an open design, combined and printed together with an upper shoe that is not much more than a sock. As its name suggests, the sneaker is inspired by so-called Cryptids – mythical creatures such as Bigfoot or Loch Ness that may or may not exist. “If you wear this shoe, you will leave traces like a cryptid would do”, Henrich explains.
One material – multiple properties
Henrich’s design is specifically made to be 3D printed on the Sintratec S2 system with a single material: the rubber-like Sintratec TPE elastomer. Ingeniously, by varying the wall thickness, specific parts of the footwear become stiffer, while others remain flexible and soft. This makes the Cryptide not only ergonomic but also comfortable to wear. “I think TPE is a great material for designing shoes”, Henrich summarizes.
“SLS could become a way of thinking design.”
Stephan Henrich
Designer and Lecturer
Robotic-Design and Architecture
