Art Fry Award goes to two 3D printing pioneers

Scott Crump and Jeff Cernohous received the first Art Fry Product Innovation Award on Sept. 25 at ProductCamp Twin Cities in Minneapolis. The honor spotlights Minnesota’s 3D printing roots and will now be presented annually.

Why it matters: - The inaugural award recognizes two Twin Cities innovators whose work helped shape 3D printing. - The honor also ties Minnesota’s product community to the legacy of Post-it Note co-inventor Art Fry. - The award is set to become an annual recognition at ProductCamp Twin Cities.

What happened: - Scott Crump and Jeff Cernohous jointly received the first Art Fry Product Innovation Award on Sept. 25, 2026. - The presentation took place at Best Buy’s headquarters during ProductCamp Twin Cities in Minneapolis. - Art Fry, age 95, attended the event and presented the awards. - Brandon Cernohous accepted the award on behalf of his father, Jeff Cernohous.

The details: - Crump, co-founder of Stratasys, developed Fused Deposition Modeling, a process that builds three-dimensional objects layer by layer. - Cernohous, a former 3M polymer processing scientist, developed 3D printing materials after joining Stratasys. - The two were nominated separately and recognized for complementary contributions to 3D printing. - The award honors curiosity, persistence and collaboration behind successful products. - The recognition also mirrors Fry’s habit of sharing credit with his late collaborator, Spencer Silver, whose adhesive chemistry made the Post-it Note possible. - Best Buy hosted the conference at its headquarters. - Kablooe Design provided financial support for the award. - ProductCamp Twin Cities is organized by the Minnesota chapter of the Product Development and Management Association, or PDMA.

Between the lines: - The joint award reinforces a broader message that major product breakthroughs often come from multiple contributors, not just one inventor. - The focus on local pioneers underscores Minnesota’s role in advancing product development and manufacturing innovation. - Fry’s presence gave the new award immediate symbolic weight, linking a classic consumer product story to a newer industrial technology story.

What's next: - ProductCamp Twin Cities will present the Art Fry Product Innovation Award annually. - The event is expected to continue highlighting Minnesota innovators and the region’s product community. - Organizations interested in supporting future events are being invited to get involved.