Model Mania® is a fun and challenging competition where participants model a predetermined part, including a follow-up revision. Just as in real-world design, changes often need to be made after the initial design is complete. In Model Mania, these are labeled as “phase 1” and “phase 2.” The top contestants who model both phases of the part accurately and the fastest could win a prize of up to $500.
Model Mania has become a long-standing tradition at the annual 3DEXPERIENCE World conference, giving designers and engineers a chance to test their skills in a fast-paced environment. There are six private booths, behind the curtains, where each contestant will sit at a desk with a computer and design a part, as accurately and quickly as possible, including an unknown revision, phase 2, which is given once phase 1 is completed.
We have always had separate categories for customers and resellers. In 2026, we added a third category for students, and we were happy to award the top three contestants in all three categories, with a total of nine winners. Keep reading to see who won!
Model Mania Xtreme
Over the past couple of years, Model Mania has expanded its activities to enhance the fun and enjoyment participants have. In 2025, we added Model Mania Xtreme, which also takes place at 3DEXPERIENCE World, and is a legendary battle where two people go head-to-head to create a 3D model in SOLIDWORKS Design or SOLIDWORKS xDesign in the fastest time. Someone can challenge another person to a one-on-one contest, set inside a small competition ring, like a “Thunderdome” style battle.
These sessions showcase speed modeling in front of a live audience, and the winners earn bragging rights, including the opportunity to hold up the coveted Model Mania Xtreme belt. Even two of our executives, Manish Kumar and Gian Paolo Bassi, challenged each other! In 2025, Manish won, and this year, Gian Paolo stole the belt from the champion! We will have to see what happens at the rematch at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027 in Nashville.
Model Mania Livestream
In 2026, we added another Model Mania activity and livestreamed it on January 21. We included information about 3DEXPERIENCE World and the SOLIDWORKS User Community. We shared the drawing for the first-ever livestream Model Mania part and received around 175 submissions in about 20 minutes! It was clearly a hit, and we will be doing another Model Mania livestream session in April 2026.
Model Mania 2026 Part and Solution
The 2026 Model Mania part is shown below. Contestants had a maximum of 2 minutes to plan their approach, and once the 2-minute preview time was up, they automatically started the modeling phase 1 when the Model Mania program launched a new part template in SOLIDWORKS Design.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UFyjlNkza-fz5s-bGgeG_pTFG-Ny9v1Y?usp=drive_link
Once they completed the model and applied the material, they were asked to add the part’s mass to complete phase 1. Then the change required was shown in phase 2. They needed to quickly make their edits and add the new mass to complete phase 2.
Anyone who achieved a 1% tolerance on their model was automatically added to a leaderboard, a new feature of the Model Mania booth in 2026. All of the top contestants on the leaderboard were validated to determine the winners.
Watch the Model Mania 2026 Solution and Winners announcement. Congratulations to the Model Mania 2026 SOLIDWORKS Design champions below!
