Stratigraphic Manufactury: 3D printing by Unfold

As you may or may not know, I have been really interested in the possibilities inherent in 3D printing with clay for quite some time now. Here is an example I found on Dezeen of a really interesting project that explores the nuances of this automated process and how 3D-printed objects created from identical digital files can be as varied and unique as hand made objects themselves.

Above: objects produced by Antwerp design studio Unfold. 

Photograph by Kristof Vrancken

Stratigraphic Manufactury is a project by Antwerp based design studio Unfold, that explores methods of manufacturing and distributing design in the dawning era of digital production.

Designing a range of bowls and vessels on the computer, each of the digital files have been sent to small-scale producers around the world, who then manufacture them in porcelain using open-source 3D printers. 

"We sent out seven of our designs," said Dries Verbruggen of Unfold. 

They were instructed not to alter the digital files but were free to incorporate personal and local influences and interpretations during the production.  

The resulting objects, which vary according to the type and consistency of the porcelain they used, and the accuracy of the printer, are on display at the Adhocracy exhibition at the inaugural Istanbul Design Biennial.

Verbruggen compared the flaws and idiosyncrasies of the digitally-generated objects to the unique tool marks left by that of the craftsman.

Unfold was founded in 2002 by Design Academy of Eindhoven graduates Claire Warnier and Dries Verbruggen. You can check out more of their work here.