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- User group of the year: New Mexico, William Radigan<\/li>\n
- User group leader of the year: Nicole Walden, Chattanooga<\/li>\n
- Michelle Pillers community award: Jeff Holliday, Mid-Atlantic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Going back to day one\u2019s discussion of the consumer trend toward experience and personalization, Richard Friedfelt, CEO of ClearVision Optical, an eyewear maker, discussed his company\u2019s efforts for meeting this demand with SOLIDWORKS Make. Joining Friedfelt on stage was Igal Kapstan, VP of Product Management for SOLIDWORKS Make, discussed how this technology bridges a gap between 3D printers and consumer demands. Essentially, 3D printers can create something unique, but need to be fed with 3D data. Retailers using SOLIDWORKS Make can enable their customers to personalize products within a set of parameters.<\/p>\n
![\"2-2-2016](\"http:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/02\/2-2-2016-9-58-14-AM-Copy-Copy-615x304.png\")
<\/p>\nClearVision customers use SOLIDWORKS Make to personalize their glasses and share their designs on Facebook (it\u2019s always good to get a second opinion) before ordering. By allowing customers to become part of the design process, retailers have the opportunity to provide both memorable and personalized experiences. Learn more about SOLIDWORKS Make and ClearVision in this blog post<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Marie Planchard, Director of SOLIDWORK Education, announced that 2.4 million students and educators use SOLIDWORKS in classrooms, research facilities and Fab Labs across the world. In hopes of getting even more students and children interested in engineering, SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids were introduced by \u200eSenior User Experience Design Engineer Chin-Loo Lama. Geared toward kids aged 4-14, SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids teach concepts from four stages of engineering: ideation, creation, enhancement and production. Learn more about the apps in this blog post<\/a>.<\/p>\n
![\"2-2-2016](\"http:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/02\/2-2-2016-10-24-50-AM-615x337.png\")
<\/p>\nSuchit returned to the stage with Frederic Ramouille of Tethys Engineering, a company created to connect students with businesses. The idea behind Tethys is moving toward creating a workforce full of certified SOLIDWORKS users. Tethys finds smart student engineers who are looking for real-world engineering experiences and matches them with businesses seeking enthusiastic minds. It\u2019s a win-win opportunity that you can read about in detail here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Coming out of its 2015 launch, Suchit provided a 6-month update for the SOLIDWORKS Entrepreneur<\/a> program. Thus far, more than 100 startups have joined the program. If you\u2019d like to learn more, visit: solidworks.com\/entrepreneurs<\/p>\n
SOLIDWORK users come in all shapes and sizes \u2013 and they innovate in very diverse industries. Yahoo Tech Founder David Pogue took on the job of interviewing three customers: the Japanese Space Elevator Association, Brewbot, and Trusst Lingerie.<\/p>\n
Space Elevator<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"IMG_1222\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/02\/IMG_1222-615x461.jpg\")
\nSpace Elevator is researching the next generation of space transport. Instead of rocketing through the atmosphere, Space Elevator is experimenting with the concept of a 100,000-kilometer lift into space. The idea is that cargo and passengers can be lifted to space quickly and without the cost and dangers of rockets. Although the concept is potentially 100 years from delivery, it\u2019s an important step toward the future our relationship with space.<\/p>\n
![\"2-2-2016](\"http:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/02\/2-2-2016-10-59-46-AM-Copy-Copy-615x346.png\")