Image of the Day: A 3D-printed tea kettle

This project was started by designer Guillian Graves and the bio-engineer Michka Melo as they partnered with French organizations like ENSCI, EPFL, EPFL+ECAL Lab and Greenloop to cohesively pull together the 3D-printed kettle’s design. Graves is very concerned with bio-technologies that enable a more ecological system of developing tools and resources and 3D-printed this kettle as part of his research.

The invention and 3D printing process used here by Graves will potentially launch a new approach and strategy toward the electronic development of industrial design and kitchen appliances. Through working with various laboratories to test possible materials, Graves developed a durable, energy efficient, and quickly heating tea kettle.

Graves wants to catalyze a natural method of creating naturally sustainable systems for developing products and tools. When designing the kettle, Graves was intrigued with the natural synergy of the environment and how it systematically changes. The construction of the kettle was greatly inspired by nature and nautilus shells, hence its name, Nautile. On Graves’ website he remarked that the pouring spout was inspired by toucans, and its rotund shape was inspired by polar bears. He uploaded the design to a customized imaging program and then 3D-printed the kettle. On his website, Graves did not list the 3D printer he used to actualize this item.

Graves is an industrial designer who specializes in new technologies and how ecological innovations can better society. He enjoys finding the link between industry and science and how form always follows function. The previous projects that Graves has worked on include a robotic assistant and a device that harnesses solar energy.

It has not yet been announced when we will be able to purchase this funky tea kettle.

Story via Guillian Graves