The Bottle Organizer

Design Brief & Conceptual Framework

The goal was to build a portable organizer for technical gear and daily tools, combining ergonomic usability with a refined aesthetic. The project explores functional storage using sculptural geometry rather than traditional ruggedized enclosures.

Material Science & Additive Manufacturing Strategy

Inspired by glass vessels, the core structure uses multi-stage additive manufacturing. To simulate hand-blown glass, a dual-layer technique was used: an opaque black inner shell for structure and depth, covered by a clear resin outer shell polished for optical clarity. This composite mimics the visual weight of glass while retaining polymer impact resistance.

Mechanical Engineering: Integrated Barrel Hinge

A key constraint was creating a hinge concealed within the exterior profile. Using Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles, an integrated barrel hinge was nested directly into the body geometry. This fastener-free solution relies on precise printing tolerances, using a central pivot pin made of printed filament or turned aluminum depending on durability needs.

Closure Mechanism & Silhouette Integrity

The closure mechanism needed to secure the enclosure without breaking its flush silhouette. We adapted traditional toolbox latch kinematics into a low-profile, curved geometry fitting flush with the bottle’s radius. This keeps the latch functional while preserving the overall form.

Disciplines: Advanced Additive Manufacturing · Surface Finishing · Mechanical Systems · DFM (Design for Manufacturing) · Kinetic Hardware Engineering