digital vessel fuses craftsmanship and computer digitization

digital vessel fuses craftsmanship and computer digitization
all images courtesy of zhoujie zhang

at the intersection of industrial production and craftsmanship, chinese designer zhoujie zhang uses a coded series of rules within a custom software to create the handmade forms of ‘digital vessel’. each piece of data acts as a limitation — determining the shape, size, and style of every outcome — creating hundreds of varied objects, like furniture, vessels, and jewelry. as each computer generated pattern is constrained to a screen — only represented two-dimensionally — it is ultimately up to the human mind to discover their three-dimensionality and functionality.

translating from intangible to material, the digital models are chosen for their probability of aesthetic success as a free-standing form. each possibility is individually laser-cut onto a single sheet of paper, then shaped and reworked to explore the most beautiful outcome. once it is established that the computer generated pattern can be translated into a volume, it is scaled to its final size and laser-cut onto a solid piece of stainless-steel and later polished and hand-folded by zhang and his team.

side view of the vessel

through the introduction of craftsmanship, every vessel is entirely unique, strengthening the creative collaboration between the designer and the computer. ‘digital vessel’ is currently seeking funding through indiegogo, here.

top view of the folded stainless steel

closeup view of ‘digital vessel’

‘digital vessel’ holding fruit