This project was developed in collaboration with Heatherwick Studio and explores the intersection between craftsmanship and robotic fabrication through ceramic glazing.

The research originated from a limitation found in mass-produced patterned tiles: while industrial manufacturing enables large-scale production, it often results in repetitive and predictable patterns that lose the richness and individuality of handcrafted work. In contrast, hand glazing offers unique and expressive results but relies on highly skilled artisans and time-intensive processes, making it difficult to scale efficiently.

Our goal was to bridge these two worlds by combining motion tracking technologies with 6-axis robotic systems, creating a workflow capable of reproducing the variability and expressiveness of handmade glazing while maintaining the precision and scalability of robotic fabrication.

The project focused on brush-on glazing techniques, where robotic movements emulate the gestures of painting to generate intricate ceramic patterns. Duck illustrations were used as experimental motifs to test, refine, and evaluate the system’s drawing accuracy, motion capture, and material application capabilities.