The Milan Design Week just concluded a few days ago, and this long-anticipated design event showcases various 3D printed works every year. From fashion to furniture, this tradition continues this year as well. The Italian company Karakoram, known for its large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) solutions, utilized its technology to create an immersive ecological installation named “PORTAL,” following its 2022 exhibition of a 3D printed sailboat hull. This work explores the future of sustainable furniture design through a circular production model, AI-assisted tools, and robotic additive manufacturing.
This eye-catching installation is a collaboration between Karakoram, the 3D printed furniture company Decibel, British industrial designer Charles Burchill, and AI creative tool developer Vizcom. Vizcom’s AI technology can quickly transform sketches into high-definition animations and 3D models. Other partners include Balena, Airtech, and KCL, who collectively created PORTAL, which integrates robotic additive manufacturing, circular materials, and artificial intelligence, breaking traditional manufacturing constraints while reducing costs and waste.
“PORTAL aims to break down barriers between concepts and creation, continents and collaborators. Through our collaboration with Vizcom and Karakoram, we showcase the limitless possibilities of technology empowering design,” said Adam Hector, co-founder of Decibel.
The installation’s location is quite meaningful—set within the abandoned SNIA factory at the Alcova exhibition space, this post-industrial site, eroded by nature, starkly contrasts with the elegantly designed yet fluid chairs. On a deeper level, this environmental choice suggests that future products can maintain high-tech attributes while returning to natural cycles.
Ten original chairs were designed by top global designers, including Burchill and Deniz Aktay (winner of the Vizcom design competition), using Vizcom’s AI tools. “We are honored to showcase how AI enhances rather than replaces creativity. PORTAL gives us a glimpse of a beautiful vision where design takes shape at the speed of thought and can be realized in just a few days,” said Jordan Taylor, CEO of Vizcom.
These sculptural yet functional chairs were manufactured using Karakoram’s HeronAM platform in both Italy and the United States. This robotic system can use sustainable recycled materials to efficiently and accurately print large, complex geometric structures, significantly reducing environmental impact. “Our technology enables localized on-demand production, granting complete design freedom while drastically reducing waste,” emphasized Francesco De Stefano, CEO of Karakoram.
Although the comfort of these sculptural and functional chairs is questionable—much like my ongoing question about 3D printed furniture: stunning yet perhaps not suitable for lounging on a lazy afternoon with a book—there are certainly standout designs in the collection. The most favored include the MONARK chair designed by Karim Rashid, the KAVE chair by Andrew Schenk, and the CONTOUR series inspired by the beauty of fabric draping by Burchill. The CLOUD chair designed by Will Rowe evokes childhood cloud-gazing thoughts with its flowing shape, leaving a strong impression.
At the Alcova exhibition area, visitors can not only observe real-time 3D printing demonstrations of HeronAM but also witness the live production process of award-winning works from Vizcom’s global AI furniture design competition. This collision of technology and art opens up new imaginative spaces for the future of sustainable manufacturing.
@ 3D Printing Insights
I am Xu Fanglei, a design professional with a PhD and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in the UK, focusing on industrial design, additive manufacturing, and business models. Here, I will use my expertise and experience to take you deep into the world of 3D printing, sharing the latest industry trends, interpreting cutting-edge technologies, and discussing commercial applications.
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