Venus: A 3D Printed Cup Celebrating the Beauty of Symbiotic Forms

A Luxury Homeware Set Designed by Tiger ChongSheng Guo

Venus was inspired by the alignment of the planets of the Solar System, and the age-old notion of "the stars aligning." This luxury homeware set aims to capture the beauty of forms complementing one another in a manner of purity that also honors the serendipity of material quality. Designed by Tiger ChongSheng Guo, Venus combines contemporary industrial design with additive manufacturing methods, such as 3D printing, to celebrate the purity of materials reconstructed, much like celestial bodies.

Venus breaks away from traditional manufacturing methods that often result in imprecise forms and immense waste. By utilizing 3D printing, Venus captures the unique qualities of the 3D filament, allowing for complex heterogenous forms to be created perfectly with no waste. This innovative approach not only reduces environmental impact but also showcases the original material's quality, which originated from the stars millions of years ago.

The cup element of Venus can be lifted from the base, and due to its shape, it effortlessly slides into the correct alignment due to the weight of the ceramic. This interaction adds to the overall elegance and functionality of the design.

The realization of Venus involved 3D printing the cup in a ceramic and polymer mix, which was then fired in a kiln to finish the ceramic. The ceramic was lightly sanded and polished to achieve a smooth surface. The wood base, on the other hand, was 3D printed using a PLA and wood mix, followed by sanding and staining.

With dimensions of 137 x 154 x 109 mm, Venus is a sleek and elegant addition to any home. The cup alone measures 112 x 125 x 101 mm, while the base alone measures 137 x 154 x 35 mm.

Venus was initially conceptualized through rapid ideation, exploring various abstract forms and iterating on them digitally. Ergonomics and anthropometric studies were undertaken with early prototypes to refine the form, surface, and scale. Overcoming the challenge of designing a simple yet elegant product with only two independent forms, Tiger ChongSheng Guo successfully created a symbiotic relationship between the cup and the base, reminiscent of celestial entities within a solar system.

Venus was exhibited at Victoria University of Wellington's RNDR 2018 Exhibition and has since been reproduced using local industry. This design project started in July 2017 and was completed in January 2018.

Venus has received recognition for its innovative design and practicality. It was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware, and Cookware Design category in 2020. This award is given to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements, contributing to a better world.

Images:

Image #1: Photographer ChongSheng Guo, Venus 1, 2017.

Image #2: Photographer ChongSheng Guo, Venus 2, 2017.

Image #3: Photographer ChongSheng Guo, Venus 3, 2017.

Image #4: Photographer ChongSheng Guo, Venus 4, 2017.

Image #5: Photographer Joshua Felizardo, Venus 5, 2017.

Intellectual Property Notice: Copyrights belong to ChongSheng Guo, 2018.