Music Icon will.i.am Joins 3D Systems as Chief Creative Officer
At a special press event at CES 2014 held by 3D Systems, an unexpected guest arrived: music megastar will.i.am.
Will is known for his creativity as well as his focus on philanthropy and sustainability. And he tied all of those together in a special announcement.
Joining Will was Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, who proudly named will.i.am as 3D Systems’ new Chief Creative Officer.
Will explained that his interest in 3D printing is anchored in education, specifically STEM. He has partnered with Lorraine Jobs, Steve Jobs’ wife, on related initiatives.
It’s also about sustainability, he said, describing a vision where leftover water bottles from a music concert can be recycled as filament for 3D printers.
“Less stuff going into landfills. It’s not waste anymore because you didn’t waste it,” said the pop star. “2025 looks totally different.”
I’m so proud to officially be a employee at @3Dsystems as chief creative officer (CCO) #CES2014 #GETmyGEEKon @On3DPrinting
— will.i.am (@iamwill) January 9, 2014
3D Systems Avi Reichental expressed his excitement for his new executive, “He is going to help us mainstream 3D printing. We’re not going to talk about will we have a 3D printer in every house, but what room in your home will the 3D printer reside?”
Reichental is right about will.i.am’s influence to mainstream 3D printing.
We first saw will.i.am get into 3D printing in December 2012, when his music video for Scream & Shout featuring Britney Spears had a will.i.am head being 3D printed on a MakerBot 3D printer. The video was viewed over 327 million times.
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