Tessellating Plant Pots (2024)

I returned to Ulster University under a new course for final year, BA Product Design. In the first semester, I was keen to use the 3D printers. I wanted to practice some 3D printed moldmaking techniques I seen online. This project was my first attempt at this.

The design itself was around sustainable ways to design ceramics for storage and packaging. I wanted to design vessels that tessellate together to use optimal space in box for transit or on a shelf. I believed more packaging = less parcels = less airplanes in transit of the product = less carbon used. This ethos didn’t translate to later projects but was a fun concept if applied abstractly to the world.

The geometric aesthetics gives me sci-fi vibes, despite the hexagonal shape being similar to the basalt formations of the Giant’s causeway which is more traditional linked with Northern Ireland.

The piece comes in 2 parts, a vessel for plants and a driptray for water. Having multiple to create a landscape with the vessels is quite fun.

I wanted to experiment with 3D printed masters for traditional plaster moldmaking. I worked well enough, but I wanted to experiment more with 3d printed plastic masters which lead to my next project that year.