nervous system generates jewelry based on cellular structures

corollaria is a new jewelry collection from design studio nervous system inspired by cellular structures in nature. each algorithmically generated piece is made up of an intricate filigree which varies in density and direction.

nervous system’s brass and rubber jewelry pieces are based on botanical structures like seed pods, flowers or pollen, as well as microscopic plankton like radiolaria or diatoms. each piece is composed of an intricate lattice structure that is generated based on its shape and environmental parameters. they vary in density and direction, echoing the formation of highly differentiated cellular tissue. in some pieces, hierarchical arrangements emerge suggestive of biological tissue development. nervous system discusses the algorithms they implemented and created at length in a post on their blog.

each piece is composed of an intricate lattice structure that is generated based on shape and environment

while many of nervous system’s previous jewelry collections were 3D-printed, the corollaria collection fuses new technologies and old. the algorithmically generated designs are manufactured in brass using traditional metalworking techniques which allow for a higher degree of intricacy and finer finish quality than 3D-printing. brass sheets are photochemically etched to produce the cellular lattices and then shaped into 3D forms using a hydraulic press, giving them a new dimensionality.

the corollaria collection fuses new technologies and old

corollaria also includes lace-like collars and necklaces which are lasercut from rubber. the rubber pieces explore cellular structures at a larger scale. in contrast to the hyper-intricacy of the brass pieces, the rubber necklaces and bracelets are large scale jewelry that blanket the body with bold organic motifs. the collection includes a series of generative necklaces called the ‘varallaria’ necklace where each piece is one of a kind, emerging from a new shape and environment.

the corollaria line is available to purchase from the nervous system shop.

the corollaria jewelry is etched and formed brass

the microstructure of each brass jewel is generated based on its form

a selection of corollaria jewelry pieces in brass

‘crenulate’ necklace in lasercut rubber

‘sinuate’ necklace in lasercut rubber

detail of ‘pollen’ pendant

the ‘pollen’ pendant and earrings

detail of ‘chrysanthemum’ pendant

in some cases, hierarchical arrangements emerge suggestive of biological tissue development

initial prototypes showed that the designs needed to be precisely toleranced in order withstand the forming proceses

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: peter corboy | designboom