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Xiaofan Gao
Industrial Designer
FLOT — An Open Cabinet for Infinite Possibilities
A cabinet designed to hold not just objects, but moments of creativity.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY — A Vessel for Infinite Possibilities
As people move between home, gym, and travel, hair dryers have stayed bulky, tangled, and frustrating to manage — breaking the sense of calm users seek in daily self-care.
Why Storage Needs Rethinking
Creative studios often outgrow conventional storage. Tools and works-in-progress deserve to be seen, touched, and rearranged — not hidden behind closed doors.
What Makes FLOT Different
Translates manufacturing logic into spatial experience
Integrates wood joinery and acrylic bonding into a unified structure
Uses material layering to define light, depth, and display boundaries
Building an Open System
Sketches explored how simple geometric units could stack into a flexible vertical system.
Each unit functions independently — as display, storage, or container — allowing users to construct their own rhythm and hierarchy.
MAKING PROCESS — From Sheet to Object
Precision fabrication and tolerance control were critical when bonding acrylic and wood into a stable structure.
1/1
This project marked my transition from designing objects to designing systems — integrating form, material behavior, and fabrication into one coherent workflow.
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