Dezeen Magazine

Ninetyoneninetytwo crafts marine-inspired objects to explore sustainability and 3D printing

Undersea creatures influenced the diversely textured forms of design studio Ninetyoneninetytwo's object series, highlighted as part of our Dezeen x The Mindcraft Project 2021 collaboration.

Ninetyoneninetytwo created the Ctenophora Vase, Echinoidea Bowl and Morning Dip Side Table – all made of recycled plastics – for The Mindcraft Project exhibition of experimental design from Denmark.

Echinoidea Bowl by ninetyoneninetytwo for The Mindcraft Project 2021
The Echinoidea Bowl features a new 3D-printing technique that gives it tangled, wiry texture. Photo by Anders Sune Berg

The studio specialises in 3D printing, and this series is meant to explore how sustainable that process can be while challenging people's understanding of what a 3D-printed object looks like.

There is a diversity of textures on display — smooth, almost cartilage-like ribs on the vase; a translucent, softly rippled surface on the side table; and the tangled, wiry nest of the bowl.

Ctenophora Vase and Morning Dip Side Table and by ninetyoneninetytwo for The Mindcraft Project 2021
All of the objects are inspired by marine life. Photo by Anders Sune Berg

The technique used on the bowl is a new one for Ninetyoneninetytwo designers Zeyu Rong and Weibo Sun, who invented it through playing with program parameters.

"This textural structure is so organic and messy," said Rong. "It becomes something totally different and does not have the normal look of 3D-printed objects."

The studio advocates 3D printing as a sustainable production process that by its nature produces little to no material waste. As well as using recycled PET/PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) plastic, they focus on reducing energy consumption and staying local.

Video is by Benjamin Lund.


Dezeen x The Mindcraft Project

The Mindcraft Project is an annual exhibition presented by the Copenhagen Design Agency to bring the best in explorative and experimental Danish design to the world.

The Dezeen x The Mindcraft Project 2021 collaboration showcases the work of 10 innovative designers and studios from the 2021 digital edition of the exhibition via a series of videos. Watch all the videos as we publish them at: www.dezeen.com/the-mindcraft-project-2021.

Dezeen x The Mindcraft Project 2021 is a partnership between Dezeen and Copenhagen Design Agency. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

More images

Ctenophora Vase, Morning Dip Side Table and Echinoidea Bowl by ninetyoneninetytwo for The Mindcraft Project 2021
Morning Dip Side Table by ninetyoneninetytwo for The Mindcraft Project 2021
Ctenophora Vase by ninetyoneninetytwo for the Mindcraft Project 2021
Object being 3D printed by ninetyoneninetytwo
Zeyu Rong from design studio ninetyoneninetytwo with 3D-printed vessels