Cloud Seeds
Harris Park
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Trophy Design
INDE.Awards 2024
Reimagining the INDE.Awards trophy
Product Design
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Project details
2024
Client: Indesign Media
Team: Tilt, Simon Reece & DeltaPrint3D Australia
Photography: Indesign & TiltBuilding on the success of the 2023 INDE.Awards trophy design, Tilt was once again invited to collaborate with Indesign on a new version of the coveted award. Crafted on a celebration of excellence in design, Tilt’s new trophy design harnesses modern technology and the ancient artistry of ceramics.
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Background
The 2024 trophy design required a fresh approach while retaining continuity with the previous year’s design. The ideation process began in the same way that Tilt approaches all client projects — with a commitment to producing a beautiful and functional product.
The chosen design showcases Tilt’s expertise in computational design, utilising the latest 3D technology. The trophy’s intricate form, made possible through advanced 3D printing, features twenty twisting ribs symbolising the twenty INDE.Awards categories. The twisted middle section of the trophy represents the dynamic connections in the creative industry and reflects innovation and collaboration.
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Process
Teaming up with 3D-print experts, DeltaPrint 3D Australia, Tilt developed a digital file to create the 3D replica. Various tests were conducted to develop the ideal clay composition and process for creating a robust ceramic sculpture. The state-of-the-art Wasp3D printer was filled with the custom ceramic mix and fine layers of clay were extruded in the shape of the trophy. The printer meticulously deposited each layer of clay on top of the previous layer until the form was completed. The printed trophies were dried for several days and then carefully transported to the Blue Mountains studio of acclaimed ceramic artist Simon Reece.
“Having always wanted to play with 3D printed ceramics, when the call came from Tim asking if I would like to be involved with the INDE.Awards trophies, I jumped at it! “ said Simon.
At Simon’s studio, he tested various glazes to achieve the desired result. The brief for the trophy colour was a gradient of black fading to white, aligning with the INDE.Awards brand. After firing the trophies, the result was a black sculpture fading to pink, revealing the clay’s high iron content and demonstrating the serendipity of working with clay.
Simon added, “It was exciting and tricky, and with Tilt making many trips to Blackheath, a beautiful object resulted. Tilt always looks for solutions, and the problems fade away.”
WATCH THE PROCESS VIDEO >
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Tilt Services
The complex processes of printing and ceramic glazing required skilled project management and troubleshooting. Yuxiao Wang, a specialist computational modelling designer, led the project at Tilt. Yuxiao explains, “Like any other design project, the INDE trophy design is bound by parameters – the brief, material limitations, and manufacturing capabilities. With a generative computational design approach, we were able to rapidly iterate through design options to optimise the trophy and balance the design parameters, while achieving an elegant form.”
Tilt provided the following services:
- Concept development
- Detailed Design inc. CAD and computational design
- Project Management through prototyping and fabrication.
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Outcome
The 2024 INDE.Awards trophies represent a fusion of cutting-edge technology and exquisite craftsmanship. Leveraging Tilt’s computational design expertise and 3D printing has resulted in an intricately detailed sculpture that captivates both the eye and the touch.
“We saw this brief as a really exciting opportunity for Tilt to be the creative.” said Tim Phillips, Tilt Managing and Creative Director.
“So often we receive a creative brief or a concept design from others so this gave us the rare chance to unleash our creativity and reinvigorate our concept development process through to a resolved product.”
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“The INDE.Awards trophy is one of the most beautiful we’ve ever received. I love the contrast between the complex 3D printing and the traditional earthy materiality – the duality reminds me of our architecture. It’s a surprising result and feels wonderful to hold.”
– Koichi Takada, Koichi Takada Architects
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