Entry number #1:

Hello all, I will begin my IB Personal Project on this day. This is the result of all my experiences
throughout the IB middle-year program. I am extremely excited to be working on my project
finally. I am sure that there will be many trials and challenges throughout my journey. Still, it will
be a precious learning experience that will teach self-management and critical thinking as well
as prepare me for college and young adulthood. The first step in my project is to pick a topic
relating to my interests, goals, and hobbies. This information can be best explained and viewed
through a personal preference or organizer chart to display my interests.

ME: ME:

My interests and hobbies My skills

3D Design 3D design
RC Basketball
Sculpting Art
Doodling
Tech
Business

My project class My academic preferences

Product design Biology

Fashion related Math
Physics
L and L

My academic shortcomings What I don't want

Chemistry Web design

LA Coding
Geography
Entry #2 Examining my interests
The next major step in my process journal is to outline four to five of my interests in a mindmap
to gain perspective and to help guide me in my choice for my personal project.

By looking at some of my interests I was able to view my personal project from different
perspectives and ultimately gain a better understanding of my task. I was able to come up with a
rough idea of what I wanted to do for my personal project through this method as well as my
learning goal and my product goal. It is important to highlight my interest in fashion with my
interest in design and 3d modeling. This will allow me to explore a new area of 3D design to
improve my skills and provide me with valuable experience.

I want to improve and sharpen my skills in 3D design and incorporate my interest in fashion by
designing and 3D printing my own shoes. By doing this I further understand and appreciate 3D
design while implementing new skills to overcome this alien challenge. I have always enjoyed
any form of art let that be music, photography, painting, or simply doodling on a corner of a page
in school. In recent years I have switched from traditional paperback forms of art to more
digitized 3D versions after picking it up. Once I picked up 3d design I knew it was some of the
most interesting pieces of software ever created. To think that animated movies, CGI in
Hollywood, and amazing renders come out of a computer.
Entry #3 Prior learning and choosing a global context for my personal project.

Throughout my 3D design journey, I was mainly self-taught followed tutorials on YouTube, and
looked at other renders for inspiration for my own. This personal project will force me to use my
own critical thinking skills to assist me in my project. In the beginning, I was pretty clueless
about 3D design and just picked it up because I thought the renders looked cool and because of
my interest in art. That's when I discovered a 3D design tool known as “Blender”. “Blender” was
a free beginner-friendly 3D design computer program that allowed me to create renders.

“Egyptian temple”
“Poor early render of a desk”

Prior Learning Purpose of the Prior Learning Additional learning needed

How to operate the blender This part of my prior learning I only know the core aspects
application is useful as it allows me to of the blender application.
properly navigate the 3D There are some areas such
design program that I will be as “shading” which require
primarily using for the design more time and effort to truly
and rendering of my shoes. master.
This also allows me to
properly print my shoes
without any hassle as I
already know how to navigate
the site.

Understanding proper By utilizing proper lighting Developing proper textures is

textures, lighting, and and modeling I can add an incredibly important as it can
modeling extra layer of detail to my the entire render an entirely
renders and make the new sense of depth and
finished product look better realism.
than if I were to use basic
modeling and lighting.
 Making my own renders Making my own renders (as Making original renders can
seen in the above pictures) be very time-consuming. I
can force me to think on my have to practice proper time
own which will develop my optimization and
critical thinking skills and management if I want to save
creativity. This is key in my time and energy.
designing my own shoes.

Picking a Global Context:

The global context that relates most to my personal project is Scientific and Technical Innovation
as I have to utilize different technologies such as 3D design software and 3D printers to
complete my personal project. However, my Personal Project also relates to the global context -
Personal and cultural expression as I'm building upon and expressing my personal interest
which is 3D design. So, the final choice for the Global Context for my personal project is
Scientific and Technical Innovation.

Entry #4 Establishing my learning and product goal.

I had already properly established my learning and product in earlier entries of my process
journal. My learning goal is focused on the topic of 3D design. The actual learning is developing
my skill in mastering 3D design. By doing this I can confidently and accurately tie in my topic to
my learning goal. The reason why I picked “developing my skill in mastering 3D design” is
because I have had past experiences and prior learning on the topic as well as it being a
personal interest to me. In 3D design, I can express my artistic freedom to its maximum value
with almost no restraint on what I can create, which is why it is a deep personal interest to me.
However, it is still important to go over all of the options for my learning and product goals.
Entry #5 establishes a clear product goal.

For my product goal, I want to design and 3D print my own line of shoes. I have to first create
initial sketches of the shoes, then model them in my 3d software, and finally print them in a 3D
printer. Of course, before I do all of this I would have to take the opinion of my supervisor and
other people to get the best designs as aesthetically possible. In order to reach a wider
audience to review my sketches and model I can take pictures, screenshots, and early renders
to communicate properly.
Entry #6 Commenting on the prior learning in terms of the learning and the product goal

Learning goal:
My prior learning in my learning goal (mastering the 3D software blender) is useful as it provides
a very useful base for me to stand on. Having previous knowledge of the subject I can better
advance through my personal with fewer and fewer roadblocks in my path. I also have previous
knowledge about modeling as seen through my past renders. This is very useful it plays a
crucial role in designing and modeling my shoes. I can also utilize my previous knowledge of
lighting and texturing to create some detailed early renders of my designs.

Product goal:
My mother owns a fashion boutique so I have past and current exposure to firsthand fashion
design. This is important as I can see the different processes needed to develop clothing (even
if they are different from my own, they can still provide useful insights). I can also utilize this
access to knowledge to extract patterns and designs that I can maybe use for inspiration for my
designs. I also have online access to different models that I can use for creativity and innovation
for my future designs of shoes. I have also observed other instances of the use of 3D printing in
the form of medicine, fixing daily inconveniences (such as wobbly chairs, table legs, and dresser
drawers), and electronics manufacturing.

Entry #7

SMART table for learning goal:

Aspect Description Yes No

Specific I want to master the Yes

blender application
because of my own
personal interest in
3D design. The
people involved in my
personal project
would be my
supervisor, my father,
and my mother. I am
going to achieve my
goal in front of my
laptop. Examples of
resources I can read
are Udemy tutorials,
YouTube videos,
other renders, and
online tips and tricks
Measurable I will know if my Yes
learning goal has
been achieved with
some form of
certificate or
documentation
stating that I have
learned some
valuable information.

Achievable I can achieve my goal Yes

by working on my
personal project
every day. Some
limitations I may face
while completing my
learning goal would
be time as we
students have a very
busy schedule. My
goal is realistic
because I have all of
the resources
necessary to
complete it.

Relevance My goal is personal Yes

to me. My interest in
3D design is driving
me to do my personal
project

Time I can achieve my goal Yes

in my timeframe
because I have
enough time to finish
my task.

SMART GOAL for product goal.:

Aspect Description Yes No

Specific I want to design and Yes

3D print my own line
of shoes. I want to do
it because it provides
me with experience
in 3D printers and 3D
 design. The
individuals involved
in my product goal
would be my father
and my supervisor.
The location where I
complete my goal is
Depending if I use
my school 3D printer,
third-party service, or
purchase my own.
The resources I need
for my product goal
would be a 3D
printer, filament for
the shoes, and my
laptop for designing
it.

Measurable I will know when my Yes

goal has been
achieved when the
shoes have been 3D
printed.

Achievable I can achieve my Yes

goal by designing
shoes and printing
them. I might face
limitations on time as
3D printing might
time as well as
designing the shoes.
My goal only has one
constraint which is
time, but other than
that there is no other
constraint.

Relevance The relevance of my Yes

product goal is my
interest. But, there is
also another
motivator which is the
environment.
(Continuation on
page 11)

Time Based on time - this Yes

task requires plenty
 of time to finish and
can be very daunting
if approached at the
wrong angle.

Entry #8

Criteria Details Relevance

Functions The shoe is meant to be used Medium

for comfort, walking, and
jogging. Due to the
3D-printed nature of the build
It might not be the best shoe
for serious sports like track
and field or basketball.
Continued use of the shoe on
rough and uneven terrain
might degrade the shoe.
However, developments in
3D printing durability might
change that as this will
enable my shoes to be used
everywhere. My shoe is not
meant to have any laces
which means you can “slip”
into it somewhat like a clog.

Aesthetic The aesthetics of the shoe High

are very important. It should
be critical to incorporate
current trends in footwear
and design into my shoes. I
can utilize different filament
colors to give each shoe a
different contrast and
spray-paint them if needed
for even more design

User Anyone can buy my shoes. Medium

But it would have been
properly edited to fit their foot.
People would buy my shoes
because of the comfort, the
design, the low environmental
impact, etc

Cost The shoe would have a High

relatively medium to high cost
 of 200-350$ depending on
the design, filament used,
print time, and if there are
any technical issues.

Safety These shoes would need to High

be very safe to not
accidentally injure a person
wearing them.

Material The material of the shoes is a Medium

3D printer filament called
TPU. There is also a
separate filament called
ninjaflex.

Size The size can be adjustable to Low

the person wearing it.

Environment My shoes will have a much High

lower environmental impact
compared to regular shoes
because regular shoes are
mass-produced and
eventually thrown away in a
landfill. On the other hand,
3D printable shoes can begin
printing as soon as the
customer orders a design.
They also have an automated
process and have carbon
emissions.

Entry #9 Supervisor meeting

Before the meeting Date: 12/10/2023 Time: 11:00 am Location: Microsoft

Teams meeting

Purpose of the meeting: The purpose of the meeting was to clarify

doubts and identify the next step ahead in the creation of my product.

What I would like to discuss with my mentor: In the meeting, my and

mentor should go through my process journal identifying gaps in my
knowledge as well as looking for ways to add or remove content.
Another purpose of the meeting is to show my mentor the current stage
of my product and look for its placement on the road to completing it. It
would also be wise to showcase the time it took to make the current
stage of the shoes and predict how long it would take to make the rest
product and complete it. It would also be important to discuss any
 technical issues faced during the production of the design and take any
insight that my mentor may provide.

During the meeting Key points during the discussion:

●​ We also discussed how Personal and cultural expression would
fit a global context as well, but stuck with scientific and technical
innovation. We talked about how personal and Cultural
Expression brings attention to cultures on a global scale which
also applies to my project.
●​ During the meeting we discussed the creation of my product and
how it should be produced as well as the time.
●​ Within entry 2 my mentor stated that I have to properly bridge the
gap between fashion design and the 3d design, as I have not
provided a proper correlating factor between them. This can
ultimately make my process journal confusing to anyone reading.
●​ We discussed the means of production of the shoes and
eventually came to the conclusion that it has to be produced by
an external vendor as the school 3D printer is too small. Another
large factor is that the vendor has access to large amounts of
TPU filament (the material that I am going to be using for my
product) on standby. We also picked an external vendor as they
are professional and make very few mistakes in the printing
process, which adds more security and increases the probability
that this product is successful.
●​ My mentor clarified a doubt I had regarding the structuring of
Entry 11. The doubt I had was about how to navigate and overall
complete entry 11. My mentor answered by stating that entry 11
is just identifying different ways to organize complex information.
●​ My mentor stated it would be important to showcase the different
stages in development for the product. This is valuable insight as
it allows the viewer to see the improvement in each iteration and
see the different details showcased in each design.

After the meeting What do I need to do next: The next step after the meeting is to
implement the changes that were discussed in Entry 2, which would be
to properly correlate shoe design and production with 3D modeling. I
would also have to implement some changes in the future like
showcasing some screenshots of the design process and how to write
entry 11. I would also have to contact the vendor and be in touch with
him when I have to print the model.

When will I have the next meeting with my mentor: I will have the
next meeting with my mentor when I complete all the tasks given to me
and all the subjects that were discussed in this meeting.
Entry # 10: product success criteria

Product success criteria Details

Function: Individuals should be able to walk and jog

It is important that the shoes are comfortable from place to place without any discomfort.
and don't have any areas of discomfort. This will be difficult to measure and act upon
as I only have 1 or 2 chances for reprinting
the entire pair of shoes from scratch if there
are too many areas of discomfort.

Aesthetic: I should be able to incorporate multiple

The aesthetics of the shoes have to be held different designs into my shoes because of
in very high regard as the shoes are only the freedom I have by using 3D software.
going to be made of 1 material. Designs should be sleek with big soles and
mid-soles to compensate for the lack of
proper cushion in a regular shoe.

Fit When a person orders the shoe they have to

The fit of the shoe as to proper for each send specific measurements of their shoe in
individual ordering them the form of photos. That way I can properly
adjust the model height, width, and length to
suit their foot. After that, I can print it and ship
it to them.

Quality The shoes have to have multiple layers of

The shoes have to be made of very high ninjaflex or TPU filament so they won't break
quality so as they won't break or sink. or get damaged easily. This way they can
also have higher durability. The midsoles and
soles of the shoe cannot be followed because
the shoe would collapse and be
unwearable/unusable.

Entry #11: Research plan for learning goal:

For clarification, my learning is to improve my skills in the blender software. I specifically chose
this learning goal because it is applicable in many areas of design such as architecture,
character creation, game development, and (of course) fashion design.

1. Define Learning Objectives:

It is important to clearly define my learning objectives before starting my research as not doing
this may lead to confusion in the later steps of research. This also gives me clearly defined
objectives which are necessary in the completion of my learning goal as well as the creation of
my product.

2. Explore Blender Basics:

Identify tutorials that explore the basics of Blender and create a solid base of knowledge that
can be used to build upon. Sources like Blender Guru’s “Donut tutorial” focus on almost all the
basic aspects and components in Blender, which is useful when learning about Blender’s user
interface, navigation, basic modeling tools, and rendering capabilities.

3. Advanced Blender Features:

By learning the basics in the last step I am able to further improve my knowledge in blender by
taking more advanced blender tutorials such as “The Intermediate Blender Tutorial Series” by
Blender Guru. The particular tutorial teaches all of the more advanced techniques and
intricacies in Blender in areas such as advanced modeling, shading, sculpting, and lighting

4. Allocate Time for Regular Practice:

By setting aside time for daily or weekly regular practice I can ensure a linear development of
skills. Doing this in combination with setting regular goals to ensure learning gives me a
constant improvement of my technique. I can also ensure that each session focuses on specific
aspects of a blender, as keeping my session broad and unfocused may reduce the effectiveness
of my learning.

5. Engage with the Blender Community:

By engaging with the Blender community I can take opinions from individuals like myself as well
as experts who are well-versed in the Blender application. By participating in discussion forums,
online groups, and social media I can broaden my knowledge and maybe pick up some new
skills and tips that have been used by others.

6. Follow Blender Documentation:

By exploring Blender’s official documentation I can better understand and fulfill my goal of
improving my skills. Documents like Blender’s “Blender 4.0 Reference Manual” explore
invaluable areas such as sculpting, compositing, rendering, the user interface, and many more.
This source is valuable as it provides technical insights as well as gets updated almost
immediately when there are blender updates or patches.

7. Undertake Project-Based Learning:

I can utilize relatively smaller projects compared to making shoes to develop my ability in
blender even more before making the product. By making a portfolio of smaller projects I can be
more confident in my ability to model the shoes.

8. Experiment with Blender Add-ons:

Experimenting with Blender add-ons can lead to the discovery of certain add-ons that may
increase the efficiency of my workflow and work processes. Implementing the use of add-ons
rather than just using vanilla blender can save me time on larger projects and also improve my
capability in the application.
10. Stay Updated on Blender Developments:
By staying regularly updated on Blender developments, I can ensure that my skills won’t
become outdated due to the increases in complexity of Blender. By doing this I can also take
advantage of the newer functions and tools in the advanced version.

12. Attend Blender Events and Workshops:

I can also participate in blender-related events such as the Game Developers Conference which
is 5 days of expert-led education on game development topics and on 3D modeling. During this
conference, individuals have the opportunity to gain insight into the future of game development,
games, and new techniques used, and view some of the attendee's work.

Entry 12: Annotating a PDF

Annotating “A Beginners Guide to Blender: This document is 20 pages long and is fully
annotated based on the rules below.

Annotating rules:
●​ Underline important words
●​ Yellow highlighter is used to show important phrases.
●​ Use arrows to further explain confusing or unexplained phrases. (This is known as
commenting, able to be viewed on the right side of the document as little flashcards)

Link for annotated document:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k-Kt47tccX-b5c-Ic-Y-OZS7gfqAARklCgUzxnwf5_U/edit
Entry 13: justifying my learning goal:
Improving and advancing my skills in blender is valuable in today’s world due to the wide reach
the software has. It has a widespread impact as the best free modeling software, accessible to
literally everyone. It can enable an individual to express their artistic nature in the 3D medium,
such as animation, advanced rendering, and game development. It serves as an invaluable tool
in the expression of creativity that is 30 years old, meaning that it has massive amounts of
credibility and has stood the test of time in an industry that is rapidly evolving. By advancing my
knowledge and ability I am also equipping myself with a useful skill set that aligns with current
and future industry trends. 3D modeling and design is used in almost every major industry such
as automotive design, architecture, animation, game design, game development, medical
imaging, interior design, fashion design, engineering, and energy. So, by aligning myself with a
piece of software and technology that plays a vital role in many major industries that are
available today I can ensure that I will have a role to play and improve my professional
adaptability which will open countless doors for me in the future where 3D design plays
important roles. Moreover, Blender’s active community ensures I have a constant flow of
support, influence, and learning resources. This means that I will always have room for constant
improvement as the industry is still evolving, bringing in new individuals who can further improve
the community and the blender application. In conclusion, by advancing and improving my
ability in Blender I make a strategic investment that could benefit me greatly in the future. It
focuses on personal and professional growth as it can be used as a medium of artistic
expression and as a medium in an industrial and office setting. Even if not used as a method of
receiving monetary gain, it will forever be a tool that is used for personal, artistic, and cultural
expression.

Entry 14: Connect the learning goal and the product goal

What do I want to learn:

I want to learn how to properly navigate the blender UI, the ability to make use of most of the
tools at my disposal, and the ability to fully understand the modeling aspect of blender. By doing
this I can ensure the proper development of my skills by learning the most basic aspects (in this
case modeling) first. By learning modeling, I can establish my intermediate to advanced
understanding of the blender application. I can primarily do this by following some of the many
blender modeling tutorials. These tutorials such as the Blender Guru “Donut tutorial”, “Blender
modeling exercises” by The CG Essentials, or a modeling tutorial from Savannah XYZ.

What I want to know in relation to my learning goal:

About the learning goal I would want to know the different career paths and options presented to
me by taking “improving my skills in 3D design in Blender”. I can inquire about the different job
opportunities in specific industries where Blender is particularly valued. I can also research the
different ways to utilize my skills in such fields. I should also implement involvement in the
Blender community to gain feedback, collaborate with others, and learn from them. I would also
want to know about blender forums as well as social media groups with extensive data on the
subject. By improving my skills in Blender I should also know how to improve my ability to
optimize workflow as this is incredibly important in enhancing my efficiency. It also enables me
to find different ways to streamline my processes. I should also try to implement the use of
smaller projects to implement the use of my learning constantly.

What have I found out:

I have found out how to properly sculpt and mold shapes in Blender, leading to me becoming
more confident in my ability to finish and complete projects. I have also found certain add-ons
that are useful in the completion of projects, such as Polligon, which provides free textures and
models to make my product completion easier, and real-time materials that showcase a library
of materials that can streamline the workflow of the creation of my product. I have also
experimented with modifiers in Blender which helps me improve my knowledge of the subject
and my confidence. Modifiers that were confusing such as solidify (adds thickness to flat
surfaces), mirror (creates a copy of the current in a particular axis), or boolean (which cuts holes
in objects) were confusing at first but now are easy to understand because of my
experimentation. I have also found a (relatively) active blender professional known as
Cleverpoly who makes some impressive blender renders. By finding him I was able to ask
doubts and inquiries relating to Blender such as where and when to use boolean modifiers and
what is the best order for modifiers.

How does the information I have found help me in achieving my learning goal and completing
my product:
Learning how to properly sculpt and mold shapes in Blender is key in achieving my learning
goal of wanting to improve my skills in Blender. Properly sculpting and molding shapes in
Blender is also useful in making my product as shoes are complex objects which have many
curves. Other areas in Blender such as add-ons help in completing my learning goal as they
assist in navigating the Blender UI and smoothen the workflow. Add-ons such as round inset
which works in parallel to the complex nature of the shoe’s topology help in creating minor
details where they normally wouldn’t be possible. Learning and utilizing different modifiers helps
in learning about Blender, which helps in the completion of my learning goal. Using different
modifiers such as shrinkwrap, solidify, and mirror is essential in the creation of my product as
without them I would not be able to add thickness to the shoe, create a midsole, or make treads
for the shoe. By finding a blender professional (Cleverpoly) I was able to clarify questions that
assist in the completion of my learning goal. Having a Blender professional around to clarify
doubts also assists in the completion of my product as it makes the workflow easier because
mistakes take less time to solve.

Entry 31: Find my contributor:

Individuals who have value as a resource How this person can help in my project

Supervisor My supervisor can help me advance in my

project by clarifying doubts and giving useful
advice. By scheduling meetings with my
supervisor I can frequently share my thoughts
with them and take their input which is useful
 when undertaking my project. They can also
give constructive feedback and performance
evaluation. The supervisor also sets and
plans proper goals and quotas to meet so I
don't lag. My supervisor can also track my
progress.

Classmates and peers Classmates and peers can offer feedback on

the work I have done. They can also give
feedback on the product at various stages of
its development. Their feedback can
influence the development of my product and
overall create a better final model. It also
promotes team-building which is useful in the
classroom environment. Discussions with
classmates also promote team-building with
peers which can be helpful in future
discussions.

Social media users Sharing my product and project on social

media can give visibility and exposure to
many more individuals. Online users can also
provide a more diverse range of feedback as
a larger spread of people may view my
project. Engaging with social media users
allows networking with like-minded
individuals. Networks can lead to valuable
partnerships and collaborations that can steer
the way for a better project.

Blender Technicians/developers Collaborating and taking opinions from

Blender developers/technicians can lead to
an opportunity for knowledge exchange
between me and them. If I have an issue
while making my model I also have quick
access to a Blender developer who may be
able to solve it. This availability streamlines to
workflow process by allowing for fewer
holdups while modelling and printing.

Close friends By sharing my projects with close friends I

can gain both emotional and informational
support. Having this kind of support from
close friends can lead to teamwork in the
project as they can give useful feedback and
motivation to finish the project.
Survey of target audience:
Entry 16: Constructing a research question:

Research question: What must one need to know about 3D modeling and designing to produce
3D-printed shoes?

Complimentary questions:
Learning:
●​ What is the easiest way to sculpt and model?
●​ How does each different method of modeling impact the project?
●​ Are there any 3D/Blender-related events to look forward to?
 ●​ Are there any other free applications separate and better from Blender?
●​ Are there any add-ons that streamline the modeling process?

Product:
●​ Is there a specific 3D printer needed to print the shoes?
●​ What file format is needed to hold the 3D model?
●​ What material is best for the shoes?
●​ How can we ensure that there will be few errors throughout the printing process?
●​ How can I make the inside of the shoe smooth while ensuring the outside still has detail?
●​ What size would be the best for the shoe?
●​ How can we make sure that she would be comfortable to wear?
●​ How can I maintain a consistent level of detail throughout the shoe?
●​ How can I make sure that the shoe is smooth and not rough?

Sources:

Website link and name Description

https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/ The official provides an depth analysis of all

This is the official blender manual. the tools and processes in the Blender
application. This particular tool is meant to
help find key binds for commands like
moving, rotating, and scaling to more
complex commands like adding loop cuts.
This manual focuses on the Blender UI,
modeling, sculpting, and add-ons which is
useful in fulfilling my product and learning
goal.

https://www.blenderguru.com/tutorials/2022/1/ This particular website, although not aligned

27/how-to-use-blender with my product goal, fulfills my learning goal
Blender guru.com is the official website of a and answers my questions in the learning
highly regarded Blender creator. aspect. Blender Guru created a series of
videos explaining how to model a donut in
Blender, which explains all of the blender
tools including but not limited to modeling,
using modifiers, animating, texturing, and
sculpting. Apart from the Donut tutorial, the
Blender Guru covers all aspects of the
Blender application.

https://3dprintingindustry.com/wp-content/uplo This is a guide to 3D printing which covers all

ads/2014/07/3D-Printing-Guide.pdf aspects and bases of it including its history,
A guide to 3D printing. different materials, machines, applications,
and value. It provides a very in-depth analysis
and exploration of the concept of 3D printing
concisely.
Entry 17: Primary resource interview with an expert or attending classes on their topic:
I attended Blender Guru’s free classes on youtube about how to make donut models and made
notes on the subject.

Modeling:
●​ Add Meshes: Basic shapes like cubes, cylinders, and tori.
●​ Extrude: Extending or pulling faces, edges, or vertices.
●​ Loop Cuts: Adding subdivisions to meshes.
●​ Proportional Editing: Adjusting multiple vertices simultaneously.

Modifiers:
●​ Subdivision Surface: Increasing mesh resolution for smoother surfaces.
●​ Mirror: Creating symmetrical models.

Sculpting:
●​ Dynamic Topology: Adjusting geometry dynamically during sculpting.

Texturing:
●​ UV Unwrapping: Preparing models for texture mapping.
●​ Material Nodes: Creating shaders and adjusting material properties.
●​ Image Texture Mapping: Applying textures to the model.

Lighting:
●​ Point, Spot, and Area Lights: Different types of light sources.
●​ HDRI Environment Lighting: Using high dynamic range images for realistic lighting.

Rendering:
●​ Cycles Renderer: Blender's advanced rendering engine.
●​ Render Settings: Adjusting resolution, samples, and other render parameters.

Camera:
●​ Camera Placement: Positioning the camera for the desired view.
●​ Depth of Field: Adjusting the focus and blurring of background elements.

Scene Management:
●​ Collections: Organizing objects in the scene.
●​ Outliner: Managing the hierarchy of objects.
Entry 18: OPVL of the Blender 4.0 manual:

Origin:
The origin of the Blender 4.0 manual from the Blender community. Although this might not be a
trustworthy source of origin of Blender's official reference manual, the Blender developers make
sure to crosscheck any change requests and only allow changes from experienced Blender
users who know the ins and outs of the program. Having the community contribute to Blender
allows the techniques and skills they used to become available to more people. Increasing the
availability of knowledge allows a higher number of individuals to get associated with Blender.
This manual was released when Blender 4.0 was released, it was released on November 13,
2023. This source is overall trustworthy as the only real changes have to be authorized by
Blender moderators. It also follows an extensive process where you have to download editing
files, write the edits, preview them, and finally upload them, checked by a blender mod.

Purpose:
The purpose of the Blender manual is to educate new Blender users on the aspects of the
Blender application such as the UI, editing, modeling, sculpting, rigging, animation, rendering,
and so on. New users would use this document to research the details of Blender and ultimately
improve their skills. After learning the manual users can use it as a book of reference, where
they can correct their mistakes in their projects and find the hotkeys for different commands in
Blender.

Value:
The value of this text cannot be undermined as it provides important information on subjects like
modeling and sculpting which are integral to my product creation. In the modeling section it
separates the different types of modeling such as curves, surfaces, metaballs, text, and volume.
In the UI section of the manual, there is a subsection called buttons and controls which provides
vast amounts of information about the different functions of the buttons visible in the UI. The
information displayed in the manual is verifiable and rustable as it is the official manual from the
blender.

Limitations:
Its first limitation is its limited updates for newer features, as the blender is constantly being
reworked and improved the manual is updated as frequently as the updates are released. This
can create confusion with newer Blender users as they are using of date version of the manual
compared to Blender. The manual also has a very high learning curve, meaning that it is very
difficult to truly understand and master blender. The manual comes compact with way too much
information for a beginner meaning that they could easily become overwhelmed with the mass
amounts of content.

Entry 19: product success criteria:

 Success Criterion Justification Sources Testing methods

Receiving good It is important to Requesting feedback

design and aesthetic receive good ratings from
reviews of the shoes. feedback on the classmates, family,
designs as it can be and friends.
vital in designing
good shoes. This
also influences the
final shoe’s design.

Make at least 3 The irritative design Requesting feedback

developing iterations allows for constant ratings from
of the shoe by 3D improvement. If I classmates, family,
printing them. didn’t follow this I and friends. I can
would end up with a also take feedback
lackluster final from my supervisor
product that did not on each design and
cover all the proper print.
bases.

Model different The outsole is I take ratings from

versions of the arguably the most friends and family as
outsole/treads for the customizable part of well as consult
shoe the shoe apart from websites that provide
the midsole and pieces of information
upper portion. It is on which sole design
important to consider is the most optimal.
different grips and
tread designs

Sketch different shoe Initially sketching I can take feedback

designs. different designs of on the different
the shoes creates the designs and decide
inspiration for future on which on will be
models and my main focus.
eventually the final
product. The
sketches for the
shoes allow us to
view the designs on a
2D plane before
creating the design in
3D. This creates a
base for us to go off
of and as a
reference.

Entry 20:
Expected date Task New date Rationale

9/12/2023 Research designs of 9/13/2023 Because I'm still

different shoes researching trending
designs for shoes and
learning, this initial step will
be longer than expected.

9/12/2023 Sketch different designs 9/14/2023 As I still have limited

for the shoes and take knowledge of designing
feedback for them. shoes this will take longer
to design them and receive
feedback for them.

9/23/2023 Model the first iteration 9/23/2023 Because I already have

of the shoe in Blender initial experience with
and take feedback for it Blender, the modeling
process for a simple first
iteration will not take longer
than expected.

10/13/2023 Model the second 10/16/2023 Because I am trying to

iteration in a blender. replicate my design from a
And take feedback on it. 2D medium to a 3D
medium, some particular
design choices will take
longer than expected.

10/20/2023 Model the two different 10/22/2023 The soles for the shoe will
soles for both of the take longer because they
shoes and feedback for require a type of modeling
them. in which I am not well
versed, so it will take an
extra two days of
researching and
developing different soles

11/3/2023 Print the first iteration at 11/3/2023 I just have to export and
a smaller scale in school send the STL file to my
using PLA teacher who will print the
shoe. So, it took the
expected time.

11/9/2023 Print the second 11/9/2023 I just have to export and

iteration at a 10 cm send the STL file to my
length in school using teacher who will print the
PLA filament. shoe. So, it took the
expected time.

12/10/2023 Supervisor meeting to 12/10/2023 The supervisor meeting will

discuss the product and happen at the expected
 the process journal. time because I gave an
advance for a date and
they accepted.

12/19/2023 Based on those prints I 12/19/2023 Because I gave ample time

will model the third and for this and I already had
final iteration. prior experience modeling
the other shoes, this one
will take the expected time.

12/25/2023 Print the final iteration 1/3/2024 I gave extra time for the
using TPU. print process to ensure I
would have more time if a
printing malfunction
occurred.

Entry 21:
The date this was made was 12/26/2023

Entry 22: A list of possible strategies to achieve personal and academic goals Calendar for
Organisation/alarms/other reminders.
This also contains the possible ways to study different subjects at the bottom of the screenshot.
Chemistry: Strategies

Physics: Strategies

Math: Strategies
Entry 23: Analysis of the causes for success and/or failure (SWOT analysis)

Strengths:
Creativity and customization: This project enables me to express my personal preferences in
design. This allows for a unique type of style, which creates a high level of personalization. The
emphasis on creativity means I can incorporate any details I want into the shoe that I design.
Skill development in Blender: Modelling a shoe in Blender incorporates different tools in
Blender which can improve my ability and skills in Blender. Modeling a shoe utilizes sculpting,
texturing, and editing.
Cost efficiency: Depending on the materials 3D-printing uses it can be very cost-effective
compared to mass produced.

Weaknesses:
Technical skill requirement: The skill requirement and knowledge for making shoes and
modeling them. 3D printing is also a skill that requires an understanding of speed, temperatures,
and the pressure values in the printer needed to produce a smooth print. A lack of technical
skills or research may lead to error or non-favourable outcomes.
Material Limitations: The range of materials that can be used for printing shoes may be limited
to the specific standard of the shoes I make. Because they may be less accessible to acquire or
produce they may extend the time taken to print them due to the time taken to purchase them.
Time-consumption: The process of designing, modeling, and printing the shoes can take
weeks to months to accomplish which puts a constraint on any other activities I may be doing,
such as my studies or my exams.

Opportunities:
Market potential: The market potential for 3D-printed shoes can be almost endless, All it takes
is to streamline the designing process which is the one aspect that takes the most time. The
footwear market also has virtually fewer competitors making 3D-printed shoes so this could take
off soon as it is already being implemented by companies like Zellerfield.
Engagement with the 3D community: By utilizing a piece of software that is so easily
accessible to everyone makes engagement with the 3D modeling community a necessity when
designing and printing shoes. This is useful to share projects, and designs, gain feedback, and
promote collaboration.
Networking: This creates opportunities to network with work members in the 3D modeling world
and hopefully collaborate with big names in the 3D design space.

Threats:
Competition: As the market is still developing for 3D printed shoes there can be alot of
competition in the future.
Changing technology: Due to the realm of 3D design and 3D printing technology rapidly
evolving, the equipment can quickly become outdated as the technology improves and industry
standards for system specs and 3D printing become more and more complex.
The overused use of AI: AI can be scary for designers and artists as months of work they took
to produce can now be produced by an AI in a matter of mere seconds. AI in the 3D
environment is less prevalent as AI tools such as DALL-E mainly illustrate in the 2D medium,
but as it evolves it will become more knowledgeable and eventually overtake an individual in
creativity and work speed.

Entry 24:

Criteria 8-7 6-5 4-3 2-1 feedback

Aesthetics Amazing Relativity has Okay Bad Even though

esthetics with good aesthetics aesthetics Aesthetics
good function aesthetics with with poor depend on the
with a decent average function individual and
function function their
preferences, it is
important to have
a shoe that looks
good and
presentable. It
should not be
crowded with
details or too
plain.

Durability Amazing Good Average Poor The shoes

durability and durability durability. durability. should be able to
ability to resist constant
prevent wear usage on all
and tear. types of surfaces
for extended
periods.

Weight Lightweight 400 - 300 500 - 400 600 - 500 The shoe should
and not grams grams grams over-encumber
difficult to the individual
 move around wearing them.
with. They They should be
are 300-200 easy to move
grams around with.

Sustainability Produces no 1 - 5 pounds 5 - 10 10 - 30 The shoes

emissions to of CO2 pounds of pounds of should produce
very little CO2 CO2 very little waste
emissions. and emissions.
the shoes are
already
recyclable so we
should focus on
the shoes
producing less
gaseous waste.

Entry 25: SMART analysis of any aspect of my project:

Receive at least 30 reviews of good feedback on my product during Personal Project exhibition
day:
Specific I must attain at least 30 positive reviews on
my product during the Personal Project
exhibition.

Measurable Yes, this is measurable as I can count and

separate the good reviews from the average
to bad reviews.

Achievable Yes, this is achievable if I produce a good

design and explain my objective in a clear
concise format to get my point across.

Relevant This is relevant to my project as it determines

its success.

Time-bound I am only time-bound by the time I have left to

complete my product before the exhibition.

Entry 26: What I learned in relation to my learning goal:

What I know What I want to know What I learned

●​ The basics of Blender. ●​ How to sculpt in ●​ I learned how to

●​ Navigating the Blender. properly utilize
 Blender user ●​ How to research modifiers in making
interface. different add-ons in my product and
●​ How to produce basic Blender. working towards my
models and renders in ●​ How to properly utilize learning goal.
Blender. modifiers. ●​ I also researched
●​ How to create basic ●​ How to render images different add-ons like
textures in Blender. with ease. “node-wrangler” to
●​ Modeling using basic ●​ How to master the streamline my
polygons. basics of Blender. learning process.
●​ Basic shading using ●​ Tools like extrude,
geometry nodes. scale, and move are
●​ Basic understanding the absolute basics in
of lighting and Blender, which I have
perspective. mastered.
●​ Roodemnetry ●​ I learned how to
understanding of model complex
modifiers. objects with a large
●​ I know how to utilize amount of polygons
add-ons to streamline
the design process.
Entry 27: Self-management: Reflection:

I used to think… Now I think…

I used to study only two weeks out from Now I set aside time every day for studying
exams. I did not have a plan for studying or allowing me to generally progress with my
have a proper schedule/routine. learning in all the subjects.

I did not set aside time for my hobbies or my Now If I have time I try to do some 3D
interests, this made me feel less motivated to modelling as it is best to do it wherever and
follow my interests. Ultimately, this made me whenever I can to progress my skills.
feel more detached from what I enjoyed
doing.

I would often get distracted while studying, Now I separate my time into 1-hour blocks,
which would make me inefficient when which keep me focused as I have a specific
completing tasks. time to work. I also try to get proper sleep and
eat healthy to ensure good energy levels
while working.

Entry 28: Impact on me:

1.​ Have I developed new skills, techniques, and strategies for effective learning? If so,
please give examples.
Yes, I have developed new skills, techniques, and strategies for learning. One such
technique is separating my time into 1-hour blocks that are reserved for learning different
subjects. This particular method allows me to focus on a single particular subject at a
 time preventing me from getting distracted and helping me practice my time
management. I also give priority to subjects in which I am struggling and give different
methods of studying such as textbooks or PPTs to diversify the sources of my
knowledge.
2.​ How can I make my learning more effective and efficient?
One very effective is to get rid of all distractions from my environment as they are the
main reason I lose time trying to complete a task.
3.​ What has helped me to learn effectively?
Using multiple sources of information can help learn more effectively. For example, in
chemistry, I take information from sources like the Hodder textbook, MYP 4 and 5 for
chemistry, the IGCSE textbook for chemistry, the Simple Chemistry Book, the material in
teams, and past papers (for practice).
4.​ Which skills did I already have?
I already have novice Blender skills which can help in 3D design and other design
applications. I could work for extremely long hours when under high levels of stress, but I
later realized that could be very damaging to my mental state.
5.​ Which skill(s) will I work on in the future?
Skills like proper time management, and focused learning are the top two most important
skills to have in the future. These skills make individuals valuable in school and the
workplace as they build a proper work ethic.
6.​ Have my strengths and ways of doing things benefited my peers? Give an example.
My ability to work long hours helped my peers, particularly in group tasks. For example,
back earlier in 10th grade, we were made to write a speech for history aks about the
industrial revolution, I took a leadership position and made the script as well as an
infographic for the presentation. This benefited me and my peers.
7.​ What did I learn about my learning goal?
I learned that it is a bit harder to complete as it focuses on mastering a complex tool
which is Blender. Although this may be difficult, that allows me to utilize the Blender
application later in my life.
8.​ What would I like to explore in relation to my learning goal or product?
I would like to explore more about fashion design concepts, especially in the realm of
footwear and sustainability.
9.​ What questions do I have after my project?
I would want to know if there were any other methods I did not know about that could
make the design or printing process easier.
10.​Have existing products inspired me to create my own? Give examples.
Yes, products such as the footwear produced at Zellerfield were a major inspiration for
me in making my shoes. Also, more recent trends such as the Astroboy big red boots
gave me the motivation to make my designs.
11.​Am I aware of the ethical, cultural, and environmental implications of my project? Give
examples.
The ethical implications of producing 3D printable shoes could be major to minor. On one
hand, the design process gives a platform for 3D artists and designers to express their
work. On the other hand, there could be a labor shortage as the work involved in
 producing 3D printable shoes is very minimal compared to actually making a
conventional pair of shoes. There is also the subject of intellectual design theft which
can be solved by just looking at the designs and the design process needed to produce
both of them. There is also the quality and safety assurance of the shoes, but this can
often be fixed by changing printer settings or investing in a higher-quality 3D printer. The
cultural implication is that individuals can express their designs more easily in a 3D file
that just has to be printed than producing a shoe that has to be mass-produced. The
shoe has almost no environmental implications as it can be recycled and made back into
the filament that produces it. It also takes very little energy to produce, which equates to
fewer CO2 emissions being produced.
12.​When collecting evidence, have I recorded how my reflections changed?
They have not changed as most of my reflections are reflections on myself.

Entry 29: Reflection on ATL skills:

Information literacy This improves my information literacy as I have to research online

articles detailing design specifications and information regarding my
project. This improves my technical understanding of Blender to more
than it was back before I started my personal project.

Media literacy Before I started my project I was poor at expressing my design in the
3D medium But because of my personal project, I was able to
manifest my visions in that medium. I was also able to fully analyze
posts on social from my favorite 3D artists such as 3D Greenhorn
and Blender Guru.

Organization My personal project improves my organization skills as it involves

taking care of and handling multiple tasks at once, it gives the vision
and helps me seek out the objectives/tasks with the highest priority.
The irritative process I followed helped me achieve better skills in
organizing my thoughts and helped me draw my plans better.

Affective Skills Affective skills develop an innovative mindset which is useful in

producing a product as unexplored such as 3D shoes.

Collaboration Through this project I collaborated with my peers as well as

professionals in the 3D design area. These collaborative skills helped
me achieve the design I wanted.

Communication Communication skills also assisted in getting my point across in

design aspects with viewers and people who inquired about my
product.

Critical thinking Designing and thinking creatively requires a certain extent of critical
 thinking skills in producing the proper design.

Creative Thinking Creative thinking skills mainly assisted in the design process.
Creative skills help in producing minor details.

Transfer These skills can be transferred to areas such as the workplace where
they necessitate organization, collaboration, and teamwork. These
can also be used when playing a game where you have to value
critical thinking and collaboration with other players.

Entry 30:

Project impact If yes, give an example

Has my project expanded my horizons? Yes, particularly in the area of 3D design and
expressing myself in more creative ways.

Has my personal project made me want to Yes, through my project I became more
learn more about the subject or other related interested in Blender and in other subjects
subjects? such as footwear design and fashion design.

During my research, I have found interesting Resources such as the Blender manual made
resources, that made me want to keep me want to explore it deeply and to truly
learning understand it.

Have I spoken to any people that have Yes, individuals like my mentor have guided
inspired me or made me want to learn more? me throughout the personal project process.
Also, my parents have supported my designs
and provided valuable feedback on them.

I made some mistakes during my project. Yes, some mistakes such as sending the
How have these mistakes helped me learn wrong file to the individual who will print my
and move forward? shoe is one of the biggest mistakes I have
ever made in the project as I had to scramble
to place another order in time for the
exhibition when I received the product. This
helped me move forward by reminding me to
always double-check.
 Was the subject of my project interesting Yes, It makes me want to learn more in the
enough to make me want the learn more? realm of 3D design

Did the people I encountered during my

project me anything or make any kind of
contribution?

Success Criteria Was it achieved and how What would have I done
differently

Aesthetics Yes, I achieved the aesthetics I would make the inside of the
I wanted. I did this by shoe look flat as modeling the
producing a wavy pattern on top portion to be wavy
the sole of the shoe changed the interior
structure.

Durability The shoe is resistant to all I would not have anything

manner of rough surfaces differently

Weight The shoe weighs in at around I would not have done

180 grams at 10 inches in anything differently
length

Sustainability The produced 0 waste. I would not have done

anything differently

Material The material is TPU Even though the material is

TPU it is not that flexible the
proper flexible material would
have been SLA*

*Very important* Even though I did extensive research about the flexibility of TPU filament I did
realize that it hardens when it is thick. There is a special formulation of TPU filament called
ninjaflex but they would have taken days to arrive, and this put a hole in my schedule which
prevented me from buying it. SLA is a flexible material at all different thicknesses, but it has a
high cost, which is why I did not use it when I had the option to.

Entry 31: personal reflection on the product:

The design and the details of my product are probably my favorite parts of the product, I truly
am happy with what I accomplished with the wavy design and the minor details on the sole.
There are some areas for improvement such as the facts of the sculpting and modeling I did for
the wavy design negatively altered the interior of the shoe by making reflect the same wavy
feature. The material of the shoe is what I feel most negatively about, although the material in
TPU, is way too hard to wear by a person, this is because TPU hardens as it gets thicker. To
improve the durability of my product I have to ensure a reasonable amount of thickness to my
product however this comes at the cost of softness and flexibility. One material known as SLA
possesses all the properties that are necessary for making all the desired features, however, it
is way too expensive to make a shoe out of it. Another material known as ninjaflex also has the
same qualities but cannot be shipped internationally without a long wait time which interferes
with the schedule I made. So, as a compromise I settled for normal TPU as it is useful for
presentation and still retains some flexibility.

Entry 32: Pictures of product:

Video of the product printing:
https://youfiles.herokuapp.com/videodictionary/?m=Video_Player_Drive&state=%7B%22ids%22
:%5B%221O4nFfNy19KWr3T2ycrgHGfX2MvZRRuPG%22%5D,%22action%22:%22open%22,
%22resourceKeys%22:%7B%7D%7D
Entry 33: Feedback from target audience:
Ratings from peers:

Feedback from Personal Project exhibition: