We can explore 3D printing seriously. Industrial pellet printers are already used for interior products. Aectual is a relevant reference, not automatically our manufacturer. Source: Aectual.
Route
What would we make?
First question
Hybrid · proposal
Wooden or bamboo base, separate cushions and printed non-structural parts.
Does everything fit, is it comfortable and can the parts be removed easily?
All wood
Mill or build the decorative parts from wood or bamboo too.
Which shape can the maker reproduce and repair reliably?
Fully printed
Industrially printed shell or base with separate upholstery.
What structural design, material trials and finishing would be needed?
Furniture maker / first conversation
De Firma CNC works on prototypes and demountable wooden joints. A possible candidate to turn the sketch and concept image into a practical base.
Bamboe Creations makes custom bamboo furniture. A candidate for material selection and production.
No availability, price or partnership has been confirmed. Neither company has been contacted.
Ask for one defined result
A structural sketch, proposed dimensions and joints, material selection, a trial plan and a quote for one prototype.
Ask for labour, materials, printing, upholstery and transport to be quoted separately. Later, the public initiative page can show a pledge with a specific contribution in return.
Shape & comfort: build a full-size model; test sitting, standing up and reaching together.
Structure: the maker develops the joints and suitable stability, strength and durability tests.
Small print trial: start with a separate holder or ribbed panel, then the set.
Assembly: a removable watertight inner pot, separate lamp and accessible fasteners.
Decision: scale up only when the trial, quotes and repairability are convincing.
A plant holder is not a watertight pot. Keep water and electricity separate. Use a complete existing lamp for the first trial; do not build mains wiring into a print.
The first craft kit: a small plant stand made from prepared bamboo parts. A child and an adult choose the colours, make it together and imagine the next version.
AI concept image. The final contents and joints are still to be defined; the age range follows a design review.
In the first trial kit
Rounded bamboo parts, a designed set of joints, a small platform, four proposed colours, two brushes, a protective sheet, a test piece and a short making booklet.
The maker cuts, drills and finishes the parts in advance. At home, the focus is on fitting, assembly and colour.
Environmental care is a design goal
Ask for material origins and documentation. Reduce packaging and keep parts replaceable. Use environmental claims only when the chosen products can support them.
ökoNORM finger paints are a candidate for the colour trial: the manufacturer lists wood among suitable surfaces, but also describes the paint as washable. That does not establish a water-resistant finish.
Before sale, have the exact kit, intended users, age range, use and applicable product requirements assessed. “Together with an adult” does not replace that assessment. See NVWA (Dutch).
Making booklet · draft for the first family trial
From parts to “we made it”.
Editorial draft. Before use, the maker must add final assembly illustrations, part codes, joint instructions and checked limits of use. This is not yet an approved construction plan.
01
Choose who you are today.
A mini jungle, a space base or a disco for one plant. Give your plant stand a name. One big idea is enough.
02
Get everything ready.
Protect the table. Gather the uprights, crosspieces, platform and joints. The adult checks that the parts are smooth and complete. Stop if you find a splinter, damage or an unclear connection.
03
Try it without paint first.
Lay out the two sides on the table and fit the joints following the supplied assembly card. The adult handles assembly that needs force or tools. Do not force anything: if it does not fit, ask the maker.
Illustrations still needed: joint detail, the two sides and the position of the platform.
04
Try the colour.
Paint the separate test piece. Follow the drying time on the chosen product. Once dry, the adult checks adhesion and whether the paint rubs off. Only then paint the agreed visible surfaces; keep fitting surfaces and joints clear.
05
Make it yours.
Choose two main colours and one playful detail. Stripes, dots, eyes or a miniature world: start with a small sketch. Let everyone design their own part.
06
A plant can move in.
After everything has dried completely, finish the assembly together using the assembly card. The adult checks every joint and the stability. Use only a suitable lightweight pot with a watertight inner pot and saucer, within the limits of use still to be established. The plant stand is not for standing or sitting on.
Family trial: mark where more explanation was needed.Understand first. Then simplify.
XO-DY · ideas for more play
The second version is yours to imagine.
The same shapes can inspire a new making idea. These are sketch challenges; they do not promise additional ways to build with the trial kit.
01 / Plant personality
Who lives here?
Design a cheerful plant buddy, name tag or pattern. Change its character with one small detail.
02 / Charm stage
A place for your story.
Sketch how you would display a favourite charm, card or found stone. What stays in place? What can change?
03 / Clutter catcher
Where does it always end up?
Choose something that keeps getting lost at home. Imagine a small storage idea. Start with what it needs to do.
04 / Smarter together
What else could one part do?
Think of a new function without making everything again. Let another family guess what it does.
Our idea card
Our design is called:
It helps with / makes more fun:
We want to try this in version two:
Proposal: the XO-DY making round
One theme per round. Share a photo of the object, a name and one sentence about your discovery. No dance, face or child account required. An adult handles any submission.
Making enjoyment, clever reuse and a clear idea guide the selection, rather than follower counts. Publication and naming are optional. Announce prizes, dates and terms only once they are arranged.
Makers keep their designs. Before commercial development, compensation, use and credit are agreed separately. No competition has opened yet.
XO makers · public showcase concept
Take on a making step.
You do not have to carry a whole initiative. You can make one part possible.
We have an early idea. You may know exactly how to make that one piece work.
What a task looks like
Make the joint. Design and test one demountable joint for the XO bench.
What is ready? A concept image, functional requirements and a preliminary production worksheet.
What do we ask for? A sketch, material advice, a test piece and feedback on what does not work yet.
What do we agree? Scope, compensation, timing, rights and visible credit before work begins.
Four ways to take part
I make. Furniture maker, 3D maker, illustrator.
I supply. Bamboo, paint, upholstery or packaging with product information.
I try. A family tests the booklet; a tester checks comfort.
I connect. Bring together the right maker, place or production capacity.
A short way to join
Choose a making step → show one example → explain how you can contribute. The initiator then discusses availability, budget and agreements privately.
The public page shows the contribution, makers who want to be named and the current stage. Quotes, contact details and negotiations belong in the initiator’s private workspace.
Open to proposalsIn conversationMaking a trialTestedReady
A completed initiative remains a destination in the XO world: read its story, visit the result, repair something or contribute to the next edition. A player does not have to have been there from day one.
Showcase and intake concept. No active registration or commitment to suppliers yet. Public initiative cards do not need to show a cost model; a future pledge states its price, contents and delivery status.
Sources and use of this pack
What do we know? What is still a proposal?
This workbook combines our own design choices with an initial exploration of existing making routes and materials. Sources consulted on 22 September 2026. A mention does not imply a partnership or product approval.
Production workbook · Harbor Pass contains two editable worksheets: the bench and XO-DY. Adjust the number of prototypes and the preliminary quantities; required component totals update accordingly.
The images were made with imagegen. The original image prompts (Dutch) are included in this pack. Production quantities follow the proposal in the worksheet, not the number of parts visible in a concept image.
XO makers / workbook 01Mockups + research + trial proposal
