Gil Rivera ’05 Wins White House 3D Printed Ornament Design Challenge

This year, the White House, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, invited makers, innovators, artists, engineers and students from across the country to design winter holiday-inspired ornaments in its first-ever 3D Printed Ornament Design Challenge.

Designer Gil Rivera’s winning entry, “Winter Snowflakes,” was chosen from more than 300 entries. The Montclair State alumnus was among 20 finalists and one of five grand prize winners whose ornaments were selected for display in the White House. Rivera’s ornament, a frosted globe which features intricate, interconnected, cutout snowflakes, is displayed on a tree in the White House’s East Room. This holiday season, more than 65,000 visitors are expected to visit the White House to enjoy the holiday decorations.

“It’s such an honor to be recognized by the White House,” says Rivera, who has pursued a successful career as a graphic design professional since receiving his BFA degree from the University in 2005.

Rivera’s “Winter Snowflakes” design reflects his simple, clean aesthetic. “All in all, I wanted a design that’s reminiscent of a vintage tree ornament but still appealing to the technological process of 3D printing,” he notes.

Currently freelancing from his home in Montclair, Rivera is also working on advancing his skills as a 3D modeler and finding new ways to apply those skills to 3D printing. “My goal is to transition into a full-time career as a 3D designer,” he explains.

The 3D Printed Ornament Design Challenge supports White House initiatives in promoting innovation and creativity in STEM-related disciplines. Once prohibitively expensive, today 3D printing offers innovative and inexpensive solutions in everything from fashion and food to health care and engineering – and design. “White House support for this new technology and recognition of its potential for improving the future has been both motivating and reassuring in my decision to change careers,” says Rivera.

His winning design not only hangs on a White House Christmas tree, but is also on display on the Smithsonian’s SD data platform, where it can be downloaded and printed out. Rivera’s ornament will also join a small collection of White House ornaments in the political history division of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.