Anyone encountering a Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printer for the first time has likely watched the machine for a while, observing how it builds an object layer by layer from molten plastic. However, in most cases, the printing process takes too long to sit and watch the gradual deposition of layers from start to finish.

Crystallographie was an art installation project with the primary goal of showcasing the on-site 3D printing of crystal-lattice-inspired artifacts. This project was a collaboration between a designer and an architect, and my role was to reinterpret a delta-type 3D printer as an exhibitable object.

The project aimed to enhance the audience’s experience of the 3D printing process by incorporating various forms of interactivity. The core concept I contributed was the generation of polyhedral shapes in response to audience input, which was then used to generate 3D models. The generated model was sent to a 3D printer, allowing the audience to watch their designs materialize on-site. To expedite the process, the layer height and shell thickness were set to 0.6mm and 0.4mm, respectively, reducing the overall print time. As the object grew, light from an LED bulb beneath the build plate passed through the object, changing the color of the space where the machine was installed.

This project was conducted in collaboration with Hyun Park (product designer) and Kate Cho (architect). My role was to develop the overall concept of the installation and to design and fabricate the mechanical components and structure of the 3D printer.