03 · Product Design · 2026
Flora Instrument
A single-part handheld tool designed to handle and arrange delicate pressed flowers with more control and less risk of damage.
Context
Created during Design Fundamentals as a single-part handheld tool exercise focused on usability, form, and fabrication.
Tools
Sketching · Rhino · Physical Prototyping · 3D Printing
Material
3D Printed Plastic
01 · Opportunity
Designing for something fragile
Working with pressed flowers made me aware of how fragile the material becomes once dried and flattened. Positioning petals without tearing, creasing, or crushing them can be difficult. Standard tweezers provide precision, but their narrow contact points can be harsh on delicate botanical material.
02 · Exploration
Searching for the right grip
I explored a range of single-piece forms that varied the grip, overall proportion, reach, and shape of the contact surface. Early sketches moved between familiar tweezer-like forms and more sculptural geometries.
03 · Prototyping
Learning through rough models
Rapid physical models helped me evaluate scale, hand position, flexibility, and how the two sides met. Building several versions made it possible to compare forms quickly before committing to the final digital model.
04 · Digital Refinement
Refining the form in Rhino
I translated the selected direction into Rhino and refined the proportions, transitions, and flower-shaped ends. The final geometry kept the decorative botanical language of the concept while remaining a single continuous form.
05 · Fabrication
From model to working object
The final design was 3D printed as a single part, eliminating the need for separate hinges or fasteners. The geometry of the body allows the two sides to flex toward one another during use.
06 · In Use
Handling delicate material with a broader contact surface
The wider flower-shaped ends spread contact across more of the petal surface than a narrow tweezer tip. In use, the tool can lift, position, and move pressed flowers while keeping the interaction gentle and controlled.
07 · Final
A purpose-built tool for handling delicate botanical material.
Reflection
This project helped me connect physical prototyping with digital form development. It reinforced how much can be learned from rough models early, especially when the success of a handheld object depends on subtle relationships between scale, flexibility, and contact.