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17-25 October 2026

Digi-Terra Collection

'Soft Developables' and 'Smokejack'

Hosted by Michelle Shields and Heleen Sintobin

This project is now archived and was part of DDW19

Soft Developables: making process
Soft Developables: making process
Heleen Sintobin
The projects explore digital crafting within contemporary ceramics. The robotic arm and CNC technology are intertwined with traditional skills exploring hybrid making. Also the materiality of porcelain is challenged by transforming it into expanding geological lightweight structures after firing.
‘Soft developables’ is a collaboration between designers Michelle Shields and Heleen Sintobin, facilitated by digital fabrication lab Grymsdyke Farm. A cabinet of objects and on-going experiments showcase experimental material research into commonly fo
Soft Developables: material research
Soft Developables: material research
Heleen Sintobin
Soft Developables: objects
Soft Developables: objects
Heleen Sintobin
Smokejack: 48 tiles
Smokejack: 48 tiles
Heleen Sintobin
Smokejack: detail
Smokejack: detail

About Michelle Shields and Heleen Sintobin

Michelle Shields and Heleen Sintobin, graduates from the Royal College of Art both met in London sharing a passion for digital crafts. Hacking into machines, engaging with digital processes and simultaneously developing the materiality is what keeps them awake at night. They both got invited by Grymsdyke farm, Digital research lab (UK) to develop new work in response to the robotic arm. The project will be launched during London Design Festival in the show ‘Hand Held to Super Scale: Building wit

Colofon

Designer Michelle Shields
Designer Heleen Sintobin
facilities Guan Lee, Grymsdyke Farm