This 3D-printed typographic slinky emerged from a process shaped by error, curiosity, material experimentation, and letterforms. This 3D-printed typographic slinky emerged from a process shaped by error, curiosity, material experimentation, and letterforms. Initially, a failed print due to layer separation—a common issue that threatens the structural integrity of 3D-printed objects—the piece evolved into a deliberate exploration of failed print as form. Instead of throwing them away, I embraced the mistake and transformed it into a playful, kinetic typographic object. By intentionally controlling and perfecting the error, I recreated the slinky’s coiling motion, allowing letters to stretch, compress, and spring to life. The process mirrored the invention of the original toy, commonly called slinky, itself an accidental byproduct of a failed attempt to make industrial springs. Through trial, error, and a spirit of experimentation, the project reimagines failure as a catalyst for creativity and a new area for typography. It invites interaction, play, and curiosity—central values in my design practice. This work challenges rigid expectations of precision in digital fabrication and typography, and instead proposes a more open, process-driven approach where discovery emerges through making. It is a celebration of the unexpected, where play and error converge to generate new forms of expression.
- Designer
- Taekyeom Lee
Project link
