Video | Learn About Julian F. Bond’s Innovative “Pixel Casting” Device

London-based designer Julian F. Bond developed a unique casting method back in 2010 and has been altering and refining the process for the past five years. His pixel casting machine contains hundreds of maneuverable stacked plaster rods that can move inward and outward – kind of like those fun pin plate toys that imprint your hand or face. By pressing the square rods inward at different levels, Bond can create completely unique and complex geometric plaster voids in which to pour his porcelain slip. Bond has created a few versions of his pixel casting device – a large design, a smaller “vase” design, and square and hexagon rod versions.

“Julian Bond’s pixel vases are produced using a mould that is made up of over 1300 individual plaster sticks, measuring 10*10mm, which are able to be moved individually to form unique shapes. This is unlike a normal slip casting mould in that the mould is not fixed. Once the user is happy with the design, clay slip is poured into the mould. The cast vessel is then removed and fired.”

The vases are cast in colored slips and only glazed on the interior, leaving the outside bare porcelain, highlighting the seams and lines that tell the story of his invention. Bond has used his device to create a variety of vessels, including one design series made for DesignMarketo.

You can read our companion piece about Bond’s work here.

Justin Crowe is a Writer and Director of Operations at CFile.

What do you think of Julian Bond’s innovative Pixel Casting Machine? Tell us in the comments below!

Pixel Casting Machine by Julian F. Bond.