Next – CaoMao

Small lot production requiring specific engineering solutions …

Cao Mao means ‘rice picker hat’ in Mandarin – something that has remained unchanged in its basic form ever since ancient times. It was this hat that provided the inspiration for a family of light objects ideated by Büro für Form and translated into the minimalist geometry of a large cone. The cone is realized using opaque or translucent thermoplastics in rotomold, a technology suited to small numbers and objects of significant dimensions. In terms of the design approach for the internal components and assembly process, careful attention had to be paid to the small lot numbers and the artisan assembly process. We therefore developed a cost-efficient engineering solution that allowed the use of common components for the wall and ceiling versions of the pendant. This minimized the number of components, the component purchase price and the stock inventory, ensuring optimization across the board.