2026

pewter, sand casting

_paper weight
_pen tray
_tape dispenser
_straight edge    

Common Things is a material-led investigation into the relationship between everyday objects and material presence. The project explores how tactile surface gradients and cast textures can influence the way objects are perceived and valued. A series of desk objects were developed through iterative material experiments, using pewter to emphasise weight, permanence, and surface character. The resulting collection examines the tension between precision and imperfection, inviting a renewed appreciation of the ordinary.

Each iteration explored the relationship between form, touch, and material. By refining how the hand meets the object, the tactile surface gradients became both a functional and expressive element, inviting interaction while reinforcing the material presence established through casting.   

Material experiments examined a spectrum of surface qualities, from highly refined gradients to deliberately exaggerated cast textures. By testing contrasting levels of refinement, the investigation identified the combinations that felt most inviting to touch and expressed the greatest sense of material presence.



 

A series of physical iterations refined the material language across the collection. Through continuous development, each object established a distinct interaction while maintaining a shared approach to form, surface, and touch.