objects with purpose                       

                                           



Lamp
Duration

Skills



Materials

October- December 2025 (2 months)

mechanical prototyping, Arduino prototyping, CAD modeling (SolidWorks), 3D printing
(Bambu Lab)

Arduino & electronic components (full list below),
PLA & PETG (3D printing), LED light bulb, screws


An interactive companion that communicates through soft signals—exploring time awareness and presence.





A delightful side table inspired by the joy of desserts. Blending playfulness with functionality, the piece features a sponge cake–shaped body with a hidden drawer, topped with a glowing ceramic strawberry lamp.

I wanted to spark joy through both form and story—to wow people and put a smile on their faces. The familiar cake shape feels nostalgic and celebratory across cultures, making it the perfect starting point for a whimsical vision. Through this piece, I explore how everyday objects—when infused with craft, humor, and memory—can invite delight and emotional connection.

This furniture piece was featured in the Industrial Design Department Triennial (2025), Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/risdexhibitions/54944182763/in/album-72177720330518591


Features



Process
With access to both a CNC machine and a ceramic kiln, I saw the perfect chance to bring this whimsical idea to life—merging precision and play to create something a little magical. The project combines two key techniques: woodworking for the cake body and ceramic slip casting for the cream and strawberry on top.














I used SolidWorks to model the cake, which gave me exact dimensions for material planning and mold-making. The whipped cream and strawberry were scaled 10% larger to account for ceramic shrinkage during drying and firing.



Wood Working: Forming the Structure

I used plywood for the structure since it’s sturdy, affordable, and less prone to warping than solid wood—especially helpful for parts that would be painted over.

I used ½-inch plywood, screws, and wood glue to build the basic structure of the drawer—aka the cake layers. The triangular form hints at a cake slice, and I made sure the joints were strong enough to support other pieces.


This was my first time working with bendy plywood. To achieve the desired curve thickness, I stacked several layers of ⅜-inch bendy plywood. If I were to revisit this process, I’d create a jig and use a vacuum bag to form the shape—making the workflow smoother, faster, and more precise.















I did almost the same process to create the top of the drawer—the frosting part of the cake. I used filler and spackle to fill in the holes and texture of the bendy plywood to make the surface smooth for painting.




CNC: From Digital to Delicious

For the “sponge cake” part, I chose hard maple for its light color and great CNC performance. As a dense hardwood, it holds carved details well. I also wanted to keep part of the piece unpainted to show that it’s real wood furniture—maple’s tone felt perfect for both texture and warmth.

I modeled the sponge texture in SolidWorks and prepared the toolpaths in VCarve. Each panel took about an hour to CNC using a 3/8” ball nose bit.







Assembly and Finishing: Icing on the Cake














I angled the table saw blade to 22.5 degrees to bevel the CNC-tectured panels, allowing them to join into a 45-degree cake slice form.



I used plywood and painted the pieces to create the strawberry slices. To fill the space between the sponge layers, I mixed fine wood dust with wood glue to make a paste. After it dried, I used spackle to smooth out any gaps, then painted the surface white for a clean, frosted look.


Ceramics:  Piped Whipped Cream and Strawberry


Coming soon...

A behind-the-scenes look at the full process of creating the ceramic whipped cream and strawberry—from plaster mold making to slip casting and glazing.