LAYER LOGIC
IDC 2025 official design competition that invites you to bring Detroit’s engineering mindset into your work.
The Challenge
Design a 3D-printed stool that reflects the mindset of Detroit’s automotive legacy. Your design should be optimized for additive manufacturing, made in PLA, ship flat, and assemble without any tools or hardware.
Top 10 Finalists
We are thrilled to present the TOP 10 finalists of the Layer Logic Design Challenge! Below, you’ll find each finalist along with key highlights of their design.
Detroit: The Inspiration
Detroit is the birthplace of modern automotive manufacturing.From Henry Ford’s assembly line to the design of some of the world’s most iconic vehicles.
We’re not asking for car-themed stools. We’re asking for designs that borrow the thinking behind the machine:
The strength of a chassis frame. The curve of an aerodynamic panel. The efficiency of an engine block. The repetition of a grille.
A transitional period in design, blending ornate Victorian influences with emerging industrial functionality. Characterized by handcrafted detail, rich materials like brass and wood, and the rise of machine aesthetics.
Embraced bold geometry, luxurious materials, and streamlined forms, reflecting a fascination with progress, glamour, and modernity.
Defined by optimism, futurism, and sleek, space-inspired aesthetics driven by rapid technological advancement and the rise of consumer culture.
Bold, aggressive design that celebrated power, speed, and American automotive dominance. Leaned into exaggerated proportions with minimal concern for restraint.
Regulatory constraints, economic downturns, and a visible decline in design ambition. Bulkier forms, muted aesthetics, and a shift toward safety and compliance.
Defined by minimalist aesthetics, global design languages, and a focus on seamless integration between form, function, and technology.
Defined by sleek minimalism, aerodynamic efficiency, and a seamless fusion of hardware and software. Experience-centric mobility.
Rooted in mass production, mechanical power, and the birth of the assembly line. A raw, functional aesthetic shaped by grit, labor, and machine-driven progress.
Design Constraints
Here’s all you need to know to get started. Follow these guidelines to ensure your design meets the competition requirements.
Each individual part must fit within a 14×14×14-inch build volume. Single parts may be split and reassembled, but this must not affect stability. Complete assembly must not exceed 18 inches in height.
Your submission must be designed for additive manufacturing using only PLA. Ensure your design is optimized for 3D printing.
1.75mm PLA filament • XL Prusa build volume (355×355×355mm) • Proper joinery methods • Manufacturing tolerances • Print orientation for minimal supports • Strategic support placement • Dimensional accuracy • Material expansion/shrinkage • Build plate borders • Surface area for stability • Multi-color as separate bodies • Consistent export positioning
STL, STEP, or OBJ formats • Full assembly file + individual bodies • Up to 5 JPEG context renders • G-code with orientation, infill, and support info • Title and detailed design description
Up to 2 colors. Available: white, black, gray. Combinations: all white, all black, all gray, white+black, white+gray, black+gray.
Design must be flat-packed. No additional hardware or tools required — PLA only.
Infill percentage must not exceed 30%.
Design must support a minimum weight of 180 lbs.
Key Dates
All the key dates. Mark your calendar and stay on track.
Judges
Your work will be reviewed by a panel of designers, engineers, educators, and industry leaders who’ve built and evaluated products at the highest level.
Vi combines expertise in industrial design and operations to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions.
Over 20 years of experience helping companies use design as a business advantage through strong, collaborative partnerships.
Built her career around human-centered design, spanning research, design management, and customer experience across global academic roles.
Works at the intersection of education, industry, and community, helping organizations in Detroit navigate change and thrive through design.
Leads a design-driven vision at Tarform to make electric mobility both beautiful and responsible.
Leads teams in developing innovative, award-winning products. Also teaches design at The Cooper Union and Parsons.
Awards & Recognitions
Top designs will be 3D printed by Makelab and displayed at IDC 2025 in Detroit. Winners will take the stage. And that’s just the beginning.
- •Cash Prize $2,000
$1,000 Makelab Credit
IDC 2025 Main Stage Moment & 2026 Tickets
60 min Digital Coffee Break with Teague
Curated Experience
- $500 Makelab Credit
- IDC 2025 Main Stage Moment
- Teague Swag Bag — includes Design This Day by Walter Dorwin Teague
- Curated Experience
- $250 Makelab Credit
- IDC 2025 Main Stage Moment
- Curated Experience
All top 10 finalists: 3D printed by Makelab and displayed at IDC 2025
IDC 2025: Legacy
Detroit, Michigan
September 16–19, 2025
Layer Logic is the official design competition of IDC 2025. All participants selected for the final exhibition must attend the event in person. Attendance will be verified. This year’s IDC theme is Legacy. Let your design be part of it.
Expert Tips. Cutting-Edge Technology.
Revolutionary Materials. All on 3D printing.