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MORTAR / RESINPrototyping

ROOTS

Away from the screen. Back to the materials.

Concept image of hands polishing mortar and sea-colored material
Away from the screen. Back to the materials.IMAGE / AI

01 / WHY

Why make it?

I wanted to make something with mortar. Not just pour it into a ready-made mold, but design the shape myself. That curiosity brought 3D design and handcraft together.

02 / IDEA

The idea.

Combining the quiet texture of mortar with sea-colored resin. Even when I repeat the process, each result is a little different. That is part of the appeal.

03 / PROCESS

Make something. See what happens.

  1. 01

    Find the shape

    Work out dimensions and thickness in Fusion, then produce the shape with a 3D printer.

  2. 02

    Make a mold. Pour.

    Make a silicone mold and cast the mortar. Experiment with resin colors and combinations.

  3. 03

    Release and polish

    Remove it from the mold and sand it. Feel the surface and watch how the light falls across it.

  4. 04

    Make it again

    Look at the bubbles, chips, and finish, then rethink the mix and the shape.

Concept image of mortar samples with pale sea-blue accents
Shape, color, texture. The experiments continue.IMAGE / AI

04 / NOT AS PLANNED

It didn’t go
quite as planned.

Bubbles. Chipped edges. Colors that turn out differently. Pieces that won’t release from the mold. Resin curing, boundaries, and sanding bring more questions. Fix one thing, and something else catches my attention.

05 / NOW & NEXT

Prototyping / 2026.09.19

Where things stand.

Still exploring a finish suitable for a product. Making, sanding, photographing, and learning from people’s responses.

What I’m thinking about next

  • Keep refining how the finished surface feels in the hand.
  • Find a way for something I love to become part of someone else’s everyday life.
Read how ROOTS began on note (Japanese)
NEXT PROJECTBrandMate Between building something and getting it used.