The Legato object family is the outcome of an exercise to improve my understanding of forms, shapes and design languages. This exercise began as a simple sketch session, with the intention of making a tabletop planter for my workspace. Seeing the initial design take its form made me think of a possibility for its expansion into other objects.
This led me to experiment with various techniques to develop design details that speak with one another. Using these techniques, I expanded the initial design into a range of everyday objects that all say the same story.
Legato
Concept
2023
To preserve the handmade look of the planter, I tried to retain the imperfections from my sketches in the next step, CAD.
Using continuous curves and smooth surfacing, I gave the planter a handmade, pebble-like look. The challenge here was to not overdo the organic shapes. For example, the top profile of the planter was a careful balancing act between a mathematical pill and an organic oblong shape.
Just changing two dimensions of the initial design produced an entirely new object with a different use. Besides, this also ensured that the vase kept the design cues from the initial design.
The led me to think of what other shapes and functions I could create by simply changing the height and width of the original planter. To test this out, I used blender to stretch and squeeze the original planter. Messy process, with some interesting results.
At this stage, I was working with a family of objects under the same design language, rather than a standalone product. To grow this design language, I wanted to add more shapes and complexity into the mix. More shapes allows for more functionality, which in turn allows more objects to join the family. Back to sketches, I explored some accessories that goes in hand with the planters, pots and vases.
Legato started out as a quick sketch session one afternoon to make a small tabletop planter. But over the course of a year, I gradually added more elements, functions and colours; which all added up to tell a visual story of a harmonious family of objects.
It is important to mention that I left out the exact scale and dimensions of the planters on purpose. My personal intention was to have something small for my tabletop, but when I showed my designs to my peers, they could see it being used in very different ways, with someone even suggesting a meter wide one made of concrete. As part of the exploration, I wanted to leave some things to be up for the viewer’s interpretation.
