Wei Jingye and Gu Mingtian · CLIENT: Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts
Crested Ibis is a furniture collection inspired by the endangered crested ibis. The collection includes a desk, a shelving unit and a screen partition. The forms follow the wings, neck, legs and feathers of the bird. Each piece is 3D printed with a biodegradable polylactic acid composite using fused deposition modelling. Main structures are formed in one piece for stability. Larger parts are printed separately and joined by hidden mortise and tenon joints, so assembly needs no tools. The collection supports biodiversity awareness and sustainable production.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This Crested Ibis Bionic Furniture Series takes the endangered crested ibis as its design prototype, with bionic innovation in form, structure and function. Integrally 3D printed with naturally degradable materials, it balances organic aesthetic, lightweight and high load capacity, and practical functions. It embodies biodiversity conservation and sustainable design, integrating design innovation and technological breakthrough.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Bionic Desk 1800 mm x 800 mm x 750 mm. Bionic Shelving Unit 1200 mm x 400 mm x 1800 mm, with customizable layer count and height. Wing bionic Screen Partition 500 mm x 1800 mm x 60 mm per module, supporting module splicing. The series takes Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printing as its core method. It has a simple processing flow with no special technical thresholds, high molding freedom without mold opening, and supports both mass production and personalized customization.
- Tags
- Bionic Design, 3D Printed Furniture, Environmentally Friendly Furniture, Organic Form Furniture
- Production Technology
- The Crested Ibis Bionic Furniture Series is 3D printed with single color Polylactic Acid composite. Formaldehyde free and biodegradable, it has high load bearing strength, aligning with sustainable design. Main structures use one piece molding to restore bionic forms and ensure stability. Oversized parts adopt split printing with hidden mortise and tenon assembly, reaching over ninety five percent material utilization and low carbon emission.
- Design Challenge
- The core challenge of this study lies in simultaneously balancing and integrating the furniture practical functions, structural mechanical stability, 3D printing process feasibility, and sustainable environmental protection concepts on the basis of organic form bionic design that accurately restores the biological characteristics of the crested ibis.
- Project Duration
- The design had started in Shenyang in January 2025, completed in Shenyang in June 2025, and displayed in the museum of Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang in June in 2025.
- Operation Flow
- Designed for home study rooms and living rooms, this furniture series also adapts to diverse spaces like open work areas and entryways. The entire collection is easy to install without tools，just place the main structure in position for immediate use. The modular components can be quickly assembled by hand using hidden mortise and tenon joints.
- Research
- This study designs a crested ibis inspired bionic furniture series. It adopts industrial Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printing and Polylactic Acid material, with one piece molding for low carbon production without molds. The series combines organic aesthetics, practical functions, biodiversity conservation and sustainable design, providing a reference for furniture innovation.
- Inspiration
- This Crested Ibis Bionic Furniture Series draws core inspiration from the elegant form and biological structure of the endangered crested ibis. Its desk, shelving units, and screen partition mimic the bird's wing, neck, legs, and feather traits, integrating natural grace with lightweight strength, stable load-bearing, and functional daily design.
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