Synthetic Blue Farshaxan Qaabaysan by Ze Zhou

Synthetic Blue Farshaxan Qaabaysan by Ze Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award in Naqshadeynta Farshaxanka Wanaagsan iyo Rakibaadda Farshaxanka Competition Category.

BirFarshaxan· 2026

Synthetic Blue Farshaxan Qaabaysan

by Ze Zhou

Client: Zoe Ze Zhou

Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award Winner in Farshaxan Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Synthetic Blue Farshaxan Qaabaysan

Synthetic Blue waa farshaxan qaabaysan oo u eg noolaha badda ee loo yaqaan jellyfish. Farshaxankan waxaa gebi ahaanba laga sameeyay qalabka cuntada ee balaastiigga ah ee la tuuray oo dib loo soo ceshaday, kuwaas oo kulayl lagu qaabeeyay oo si joogto ah loogu dhex aasay resin. Qaabka qubbadda ah waxaa lagu abuuray cadaadis iyo kulayl la xakameeyay, iyadoo la ilaalinayo dhismaha dusha sare ee xasuusinaya xuubabka noolaha. Farshaxanku wuxuu ku dul fadhiyaa weel gacmeed resin ah oo aan qoto dheerayn oo alwaax lagu hareereeyay, kaas oo muujinaya dusha sare ee biyaha oo milicsanaya. Daawadayaashu waxay marka hore u arkaan shayga inuu yahay nooleha badda, ka dibna waxay gartaan balaastiigga la tuuray, isbeddelkaas oo dareenka u soo jiidaya saameynta qashinku ku leeyahay nolosha badda.

The Recognition

About the Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award

Synthetic Blue Farshaxan Qaabaysan waa guuleystaha Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award, aqoonsi sharaf leh oo la siiyo naqshado wanaagsan oo buuxiya shuruudaha xirfadeed iyo kuwa warshadeed ee laga filayo hal-abuurro si wanaagsan loo naqshadeeyay. Guuleystayaasha Birta waxay muujiyaan xirfad weyn, takhasus sare, fahan khabiir iyo awood hal-abuur oo abuurayaashooda. Synthetic Blue Farshaxan Qaabaysan waa hal-abuur la filayo inuu noqdo mid aad loo tixgeliyo, la ixtiraamo oo la jecel yahay, wax ku ool ah oo cusub. Naqshadahan ku guuleystay Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award wuxuu isku daraa hab-dhaqannada ugu wanaagsan warshadda wuxuuna leeyahay sifooyin farsamo oo karti leh oo ku xiran aqoon iyo hibo. Dhammaystirkeeda awgeed, Synthetic Blue Farshaxan Qaabaysan waa mudan ixtiraam, waxaana loo naqshadeeyay inay keento hagaajin nololeed oo ka caawisa in adduunka laga dhigo meel ka wanaagsan.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The sculpture is constructed entirely from reclaimed disposable plastic utensils that have been thermally reshaped and permanently embedded in resin.

The piece rests within a shallow resin basin framed in wood. Integrating material recycling, biomimetic morphology, and controlled thermoplastic manipulation, the work synthesizes sustainability, process-driven form, and ecological narrative into a cohesive sculptural object.
Dimensions & Packaging: The object is positioned within a shallow resin basin framed by wood, simulating a reflective water surface. This base establishes spatial context while stabilizing the structure.

The project merges material recycling, biomimetic morphology, and controlled thermoplastic manipulation into a single cohesive object.
Tags: Art，Sustainable Design，Environmental friendly，Product Design
Production Technology: The sculpture is constructed entirely from reclaimed disposable plastic utensils that have been thermally reshaped and embedded in resin. The dome structure is formed through compression and controlled heat processes, preserving surface textures that resemble biological membranes.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was balancing structural stability with organic irregularity. Thermoplastic materials deform unpredictably under heat, requiring iterative experimentation to maintain translucency without
collapse.

Another challenge involved achieving water-like optical depth within a shallow resin base while preserving clarity and minimizing air bubbles.
Research: It explores thermoplastic reconfiguration and biomimetic form translation. Through experimental heating and compression methods, disposable plastic utensils were transformed into semi-organic structures while maintaining evidence of their original function.

The research investigates how material memory, translucency, and deformation can simulate marine morphology. The work also examines visual misidentification as a design strategy, translating ecological phenomena into object-scale form.
Inspiration: Sea turtles often mistake floating plastic for jellyfish, leading to fatal ingestion. Synthetic materials have infiltrated natural ecosystems.

Synthetic Blue emerges from this resemblance. Instead of symbolically depicting marine life, the project reshapes discarded plastic utensils into a form that mimics the fragile translucency of a jellyfish.

By transforming waste into a seductive marine apparition, the work exposes the paradox of artificial beauty and environmental harm.
Project Duration: Designed and fabricated in California, USA, 2024–2025.
Exhibited in 2025 at:
• Some Like It Hot, California Creative Arts, CA
• Pocket Gallery, Burbank, CA
Operation Flow: Viewers first encounter the sculpture as a delicate marine organism due to its translucent surface and aquatic coloration.

As proximity increases, the identity of disposable plastic materials becomes recognizable. This perceptual transition — from aesthetic admiration to material awareness — forms the primary interaction mechanism.

The work operates through visual deception and revelation, mirroring the ecological misrecognition that inspired it.
Patents: Zoe Ze Zhou
Team Members: Zoe Ze Zhou
Image Credits: Zoe Ze Zhou