Baby Fountain: A Journey from Concept to Creation
As a designer and maker, the act of transforming an idea into a finished piece is always exhilarating. Baby Fountain is one of AMP’s first projects that challenges what a planter is and could be by pushing the limits of design and creativity: designing a pot that incorporates new, unexpected behaviors. While the initial vision was grand—envisioning a 3-foot-tall wooden sculpture with cascading water—I quickly realized that this ambition would require more than just artistic vision; it would demand ingenuity.
The Dream: A 3-Foot-Tall Wooden Planter
When I first conceived the idea for the planter, I imagined a piece that could stand tall in any contemporary space—perhaps a minimalist urban loft or a posh café. The design was inspired by Japanese candles and natural materials, with the water feature as the focal point. Two-thirds of the structure would act as a captivating fountain, where water would cascade down its sides, creating a tranquil and soothing atmosphere.
Reality soon set in as work began: the cost of artisans, material constraints, construction complexity, and scale became formidable challenges.
Initial Concept
A 3-Foot-Tall Wooden Planter
A Simple Solution
Faced with these hurdles, the decision to scale down the project to a manageable one-foot-tall planter made from a pourable material, concrete, seemed to be the promising path forward. These modifications allowed me to maintain the initial concept but were far more practical, both in terms of cost and construction.
3D Printing: Revolutionizing the Design Process
A 3D printer proved invaluable throughout the process. I could quickly print study models to figure out massing, water flow, and drainage solutions. It also made it possible to produce concrete models with great precision and without needing an object to cast. Overall, it allowed rapid refinement of the design in a fraction of the time, as well as in-house manufacturing capabilities.
3D Printed Study Models
Miniture models to study massing, water flow, asembly, and drainage solutions
The Power of In-House Production: Efficiency and Conscious Manufacturing
Opting for in-house production meant greater control over the entire process. It reduces waste and ensures that each planter is crafted with care rather than mass production. It grants me the ability to make it only when an order is placed. This approach aligned perfectly with a commitment to conscious manufacturing while offering the flexibility to adjust the design as needed.
A New Approach to Timeless Design
This project may have started with a lofty vision, but it evolved into something more intimate and achievable—an object of design that balances scale and practicality, technology and craftsmanship, elegance and conscious manufacturing to produce a piece that is both functional and visually captivating. For design enthusiasts and those who appreciate high-quality, functional art pieces, this planter serves as a reminder that even ambitious projects can be reimagined with the right tools and mindset.
