Plan Ta 模組化花瓶 by Xavier Zhagui is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 三維打印設計 Competition Category.

鐵三維打印· 2024

Plan Ta 模組化花瓶

by Xavier Zhagui

Client: DEZIGN for X

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 三維打印 Category

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The Design

About Plan Ta 模組化花瓶

設計師的靈感源自其童年時期在房間內被天然植物及積木包圍的成長經歷。這引發了一個疑問：有沒有方法可以將兩者結合？透過運用空間填充多面體的獨特特性及3D打印技術，設計師找到了這個問題的答案。解決方案體現為Plan Ta，一個磁力種植積木系統，不僅可以容納多種室內植物，更可用作搭建及玩耍。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Plan Ta 模組化花瓶是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Plan Ta 模組化花瓶將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Plan Ta 模組化花瓶因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Utilizing the unique properties of space filling polyhedrons and 3D printing, I was able to create a system of magnetic planter building blocks that you can play and build with. The modular properties of the design allow for space saving advantages by packing multiple planters together into one structure rather than spread out on a surface. A series of sizes has been created to house different types of plants, the smallest being an air plant, and the biggest being a house plant.
Dimensions & Packaging: Small Vase
50.8mm x 71.8mm x 50.8mm
Large Vase
127mm x 179.6mm x 127mm
Tags: 3D Printing, Vase, Modular, digital fabrication, dezignforx
Production Technology: Inner and outer shell are (FDM) 3d printed with a textured finish. Neodymium Sphere magnets are inserted as the connection points. The material is PETG for its water resistance.
Design Challenge: Creating an intuitive module that functioned both as a planter and building blocks that were fun and easy to build with.
Research: Creating a modular form that was intuitive to use and had a simple form led me to research space-filling polyhedrons. Utilizing the rapid prototyping abilities of 3d printing I was able to iterate and experiment with various polyhedron forms to find the most efficient solution. After concluding that rhombic dodecahedron would be the most balanced solution between efficiency and aesthetics, I experimented with different joint connections that would join the modules together. A series of freely rotating magnetic spheres inserted into the vase provided a simple yet effective way of joining the modules together. Material was the final stage of research, 3D printed PLA was the initial choice for its unique characteristics of biodegradability. Unfortunately, it is a very porous material which allowed drainage water leak from the vase. 3D printed PETG was more effective for its water-resistant properties. PETG is not biodegradable compared to PLA, but we are currently researching ways to recycle and cut waste, such as utilizing print to order 3d printing manufacturing strategies compared to wasteful mass production plants.
Inspiration: During my childhood I found a deep appreciation for natural plants in my room, and I spent a lot of time playing around and creating with building blocks. I wondered if there was a way to combine the two simple ideas. That question is what drove me to explore different geometries and manufacturing processes such as 3D printing to discover a solution.
Project Duration: The project was started in July 2018 in Las Vegas and is in the final stages of development for production.
Operation Flow: All vases connect to each other magnetically by aligning the faces of a vase of the same size allowing you to stack them in any axis. A wall mount has also been designed, allowing you to tile any size vase onto a vertical surface. There are two sizes available, a small one and a large one.
For the small vase you simply insert the air plant into the vase and take it out when it needs to be watered. The large vase has two shells, an interior shell where the plant lives in, and the exterior shell that collects the drainage. To ease maintenance, the interior shell can be removed to allow for easier watering and trimming.
Patents: Patent Pending
Team Members: Xavier Zhagui
Image Credits: All Images: Photographer Xavier Zhagui, Plan-Ta, 2024.