May 13, 2017 | By Julia
Fashion label COS and Dutch designer Olivier van Herpt have teamed up on a new collection of 3D printed clay vases. Set to be released in a limited number of COS stores, the innovative new designs were largely inspired by the label’s Spring and Summer collection.
Van Herpt says the array of colours, shapes, and textures featured in the COS line were especially provocative for him. "It's almost as if the clothing and wearer merge together to create new forms, and I used this idea as the starting point to develop the vases," van Herpt explained to Dezeen.
Rounding out to a limited edition of only 6 vases, the van Herpt designs incorporate gentle, sloping curves pleasing to the eye. Each vase is unique: some feature a more angular shape, while others express a considerably rounder form.
The tiny ridges created by the 3D printing process, though not immediately apparent, were intentional on van Herpt’s part. A ribbed design allowed the Dutch designer the freedom to build large-scale objects without compromising stability. At the same time, if viewed from several paces back, the smooth appearance of the clay surface conceals these tiny structural layers.
An innovator through and through, van Herpt expresses much more than tasteful aesthetics with these vases. The limited edition collection also belies the designer’s passion for developing technology.
"For me, design is about creating new shapes and exploring new possibilities through the development of tools," van Herpt told press. "By studying the limitations of what can be made and improving processes step by step, I'm essentially designing the manufacturing technology itself."
In fact, van Herpt has been developing his own 3D printers since 2014, while he was attending the Design Academy Eindhoven for industrial design. Van Herpt says he was frustrated by the limitations of what was currently available in the way of desktop printers.
The designer experimented for around two years before successfully creating a 3D printer extruder that could process hard clay. Since graduating in 2015, van Herpt has been perfecting his innovation. The designer currently runs his own studio in Eindhoven, and has just finished the final prototype of his clay 3D printer.
The new COS vases are a test, in this sense, but also a statement of van Herpt’s design philosophy. "Throughout my life I've been captivated by those parts of the making process and this is my goal as a designer: I want to make machines that enable others to create," he said.
Check out the stunning clay vases for yourself in COS’ Regent Street store this month, which will be displayed alongside images of the designer’s creative process. COS has announced it will be gifting the vases to customers by way of a social media competition: Instagram followers who share images of their favourite ceramics may soon be the lucky owners of these one-of-a-kind clay designs.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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