In October 2018, “designer” Joe Doucet of Brooklyn, New York City, described as “the Living Blueprint for the 21st Century Designer” by Forbes magazine, 3D printed a homeware collection for a brand new exhibition at New York City’s Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. Doucet established the OTHR design brand in 2016, was named the only ever AvantGuardian for “Design by Surface” Magazine, and was named the 2017 winner of the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award as a Product Designer. Doucet has previously created a capsule collection of 3D knitted ties with Thursday Finest, also of Brooklyn.

Doucet designed the 3D printed set of knobby and greyscale cookware, cutlery, serving and storage capsules specifically for the museum’s “Tablescapes: Designs For Dining” showcase, which can be viewed at the museum until April 14th 2019. The 3D printed objects can be used to perform several different functions for food service and preparation; the lids can simply be used to seal the bowls to keep their contents fresh, but they can also be used as trivets and plates as well. The knobbly bumps that cover the entirety of the 3D printed vessels help provide grip; they are also meant ensure an even distribution of heat during cooking and properly dissipate heat during serving.

The collection was made from two different polymers by Shapeways of New York, who allowed the museum to borrow its 3D printing equipment to demonstrate the process during the exhibit. Doucet also created some of his own pieces for the 3D printed product range, such as way-finding running gloves, and asked Yonoh, Phillippe Malouin, and Claesson Koivisto Rune to help add to the homeware collection as well.

Dislcaimer: Featured image of “Tupperware home party in Sarasota, Florida” is from the Florida Memory Project hosted at the State Archive of Florida, and is released to the public domain in the United States under the terms of Section 257.35(6), Florida Statutes. In accordance with the provisions of Section 257.35(6), Florida Statutes, “Any use or reproduction of material deposited with the Florida Photographic Collection shall be allowed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1)(b) and subsection (4), provided that appropriate credit for its use is given.”