Plexus Sisitemu yo Kwomeka Ibice by Subinay Malhotra

Plexus Sisitemu yo Kwomeka Ibice by Subinay Malhotra is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cy'icyuma in Igishushanyo Gishingiye ku Ikoranabuhanga Competition Category.

IcyumaIgishushanyo Gishingiye ku Ikoranabuhanga· 2025

Plexus Sisitemu yo Kwomeka Ibice

by Subinay Malhotra

Client: Subinay Malhotra Designworks

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cy'icyuma Winner in Igishushanyo Gishingiye ku Ikoranabuhanga Category

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Plexus Sisitemu yo Kwomeka Ibice

Plexus ni sisitemu y'imyubakire y'ibice ikoze hifashishijwe ubuhanga bwa generative design n'ibyomeko byahuzwa mu buryo bunyuranye. Iyi sisitemu ihuza ibice nta biboshyo gakondo bikoreshejwe, bigatuma habaho guhinduka koroshye hagati y'ubuso n'inyubako. Ibice bikorwa binyuze mu buryo bwo gushonga wax (lost-wax casting) uhereye ku ngero za wax zakozwe hifashishijwe icapiro rya 3D. Urusobe rw'algorithme (algorithmic mesh) rufasha gukomeza aho ibice bishobora kwangirika cyane, kandi rukagabanya ingano ya metal ikoreshwa. Uburyo bwa anodizing budahungabanya ibidukikije, hamwe no gushyira ibendera bitagira uburozi, bituma ibikoresho bikomera kandi bigira ubuso bwiza. Plexus ishyigikira gushyira hamwe no guhindura imiterere y'ibintu mu byiciro bitandukanye.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cy'icyuma

Plexus Sisitemu yo Kwomeka Ibice ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cy'icyuma, ishimwe ry'agaciro ritangwa ku bishushanyo byiza bihuza ibyo umwuga n'inganda bikeneye ku bihangano byashushanyijwe neza. Abegukanye icyuma bagaragaza ubuhanga bukomeye, ubumenyi bwihariye, imyumvire y'inzobere n'ubushobozi bwo guhanga bw'ababikoze. Plexus Sisitemu yo Kwomeka Ibice biteganyijwe ko izaba igihangano cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifatika kandi gifite udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye icyuma gihuza uburyo bwiza bukoreshwa mu nganda kandi gifite ibiranga bya tekiniki bifite ubushobozi, bifatanye n'ubumenyi n'impano. Plexus Sisitemu yo Kwomeka Ibice yubahwa kubera gukora neza, kandi yashushanyijwe kugira ngo inoze ubuzima, ifashe gutuma isi iba nziza.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Plexus redefines modular joinery by integrating generative design with adaptable connection systems, allowing seamless transformation into various applications. Its innovative joining method enables fluid transitions between surfaces and structures, eliminating conventional fasteners while enhancing strength, flexibility, and scalability. Combining advanced metal treatments with precision-engineered connections, Plexus challenges traditional assembly processes by giving reconfigurable solutions
Dimensions & Packaging: 218mm x 175mm x 162mm
Tags: generative design, modular joinery, parametric modeling, lost-wax casting, eco-friendly plating, sustainable manufacturing, computational fabrication, adaptive structures, material efficiency, algorithmic mesh
Production Technology: Plexus utilizes 3D-printed wax patterns combined with lost-wax casting to achieve intricate, high-precision modular joinery. The generative design is first developed through parametric modeling, then translated into wax prototypes via SLA 3D printing. These wax models undergo investment casting, producing durable metal components with seamless, organic forms. The system integrates custom anodization, electroplating, and multi-material hybridization, enhancing surface properties, durability, and aesthetic adaptability, redefining traditional joinery through advanced computational fabrication techniques.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge in Plexus was balancing structural integrity with material reduction while maintaining seamless adaptability. Algorithmic joinery required extensive computational testing to optimize mesh density for load-bearing efficiency without overusing metal. Overcoming manufacturing constraints in lost-wax casting and eco-plating demanded collaboration with fabricators to refine tolerances. Bridging generative design with real-world production was key to making Plexus both scalable and sustainable.
Research: Plexus is based on experimental design research exploring algorithmic joinery and modular assembly, with a focus on reducing unnecessary metal use through optimized material distribution and eco-friendly plating techniques. The objective was to create a seamless, reconfigurable connection system that enhances efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability. Using parametric modeling and computational simulations, the study analyzed load distribution and material behavior to eliminate excess material in non-critical areas. Data was gathered through digital stress tests and 3D-printed prototypes, refined via lost-wax casting and advanced metal treatments. Participants included engineers, designers, and fabricators, who provided insights into usability, strength, and scalability. The research demonstrated that generative mesh structures strategically reduce metal usage while maintaining structural integrity. Additionally, eco-friendly plating techniques, such as low-impact anodization and non-toxic electroplating, were integrated to enhance durability and environmental sustainability. This innovation enables sustainable manufacturing, minimizing waste while enhancing performance and flexibility. The impact extends to product design, architecture, and adaptive manufacturing, offering an efficient, high-performance alternative to traditional joinery.
Inspiration: Inspired by nature’s seamless connections and biological structures, Plexus reimagines traditional joinery through generative design and modular adaptability. The project stems from parametric design, biomimicry, and material efficiency research, seeking to eliminate rigid fasteners in favor of fluid, scalable connections. By integrating algorithmic modeling with precision engineering, Plexus introduces a versatile, reconfigurable system that adapts across multiple applications.
Project Duration: The project started in August 2024 and was produced by February 2025. Plexus Joinery has been published globally, receiving recognition across various platforms.
Operation Flow: Plexus utilizes an algorithmically generated mesh structure within its modular joinery system, ensuring optimal strength and weight distribution. The mesh is parametrically designed to reinforce stress points, allowing the structure to withstand significant loads while maintaining a lightweight, organic form. This adaptive approach enables seamless assembly, transformation, and reconfiguration without traditional fasteners, enhancing structural integrity, user interaction, and aesthetic fluidity in a scalable design solution.
Team Members: Subinay Malhotra
Image Credits: Image #1: Plexus Joinery
Image #2: In Context
Image #3: In context
Image #4: In context
Image #3: Function