Crystallization Experiment
Duty:
Material Preparation
Experiment Conducting
Uni Project
2016
Journey
In this project, I fulfilled a long-held aspiration of mine—applying chemical experiments to design. Although I don’t intend to showcase the final results (as they are not fully refined), I’m glad I documented the joy of the process.
I conducted two crystallization experiments—copper sulfate and alum. The experiment began with acquiring the necessary materials and equipment, setting up an alcohol burner in my dorm room, controlling the concentration of the solutions, and then waiting for the crystals to form, repeating the process over and over. Once I became proficient in the crystallization process, I began introducing different materials, such as threads, mesh and artificial flowers, to attempt to influence the shape of the crystals. All in all, the experience was incredibly enjoyable.
2021
Journey
During my design journey at Holonomic, I was fortunate to collaborate with my colleague Sisi on creating an accessory. We visited a lot of factories that specialize in making jewelry, during which we discovered some intriguing components—one of which was a metal clasp used for connecting necklaces or bracelets, composed of a ball with a button and a pin. This combination caught our attention as it reminded us of LEGO, giving consumers the freedom to be creative.
We envision each smallest unit consisting of a ball and a pin, allowing it to connect with any other unit to create new designs. We were trying to use this concept in rings, earrings, and necklaces, breaking the boundaries between different types of jewelry. They’re detachable and assemble easily, and we ensure that the new designs created are also wearable. This way, customers can mix and match to create their own unique pieces.
We sketched out the concept using abstract shapes to represent the structure and also created models to test the feasibility of the design.
Throughout the project's development, we faced numerous challenges and obstacles. For instance, when we attempted to enhance the design of this component, we struggled to find manufacturers willing to accommodate our technical innovations, and those that did often exceeded our budget constraints. However, these difficulties only reinforced our belief in the uniqueness of our idea—there was nothing like it on the market at the time. Eventually, we were fortunate enough to find a manufacturer willing to collaborate with us in developing and producing the accessory, sharing our commitment to design innovation.
Although the final product did not achieve commercial success due to various practical reasons, the experience allowed me to gain valuable insights into the jewelry design and production process. It also gave me a profound sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in bringing a design concept to life.
