Silicone Products & Mold System

I built this collection while running Xiaoxi Studio, exploring how soft, familiar shapes could become objects people want to hold. The design problem was practical as well as visual: each concept had to survive printing, mold making, repeated casting, finishing, photography, and shipment.

I later assembled a ten-piece Healing Art exhibition proposal that brought together pastry, mochi, eggshell, and glowing-fish variations as tactile work.

Digital form to physical master

I sculpted most organic forms in Nomad Sculpt and used SolidWorks for a related mold-design project. I resin-printed detailed master forms and used a Bambu Lab P1S to print PLA mold walls and supports.

Tooling and casting

I finished the masters, assembled the mold enclosures, poured liquid silicone to make reusable molds, and cast the finished squeeze toys. Repeated trials exposed sizing, cure, release, air-bubble, and surface-finish problems that I had to work through by hand.

One documented iteration

My fish-egg squeeze toy moved through visibly different versions. The larger 2.0 version improved the hand feel, but still showed small bubbles; subsequent batches became more consistent as I refined the casting process.

From object to customer

I photographed the products, wrote listings, maintained Etsy and an independent storefront, responded to customers, and packaged and shipped orders. Posts on Xiaohongshu documented the design and making process and brought direct questions from potential buyers.