Laser-Cut insects as
modular decorative objects

For this personal design and fabrication project, I combined my long-standing passion for insects with my technical skills in laser cutting to bring illustrated forms into three-dimensional life. Inspired by the clean modularity of Muji’s cardboard creatures and the poetic aesthetics of Studio Roof, I set out to design a collection of decorative insects, such as stag beetles, dragonflies, and butterflies, transformed into buildable wooden objects.

Using Adobe Illustrator, I created vector-based models, which were prototyped and produced with a Trotec Speedy 360 laser cutter on poplar wood. Each insect is made up of interlocking parts, painted with acrylics, and designed to be assembled manually by the recipient. The construction is deliberately flexible

Beyond creating decorative objects, this project served as a technical case study exploring the challenges of digital fabrication, material constraints, and scalable production. It also allowed me to develop a cohesive visual identity that could be adapted across different insect species and product formats.

This hands-on experiment bridged illustration, object design, and digital manufacturing, transforming flat visuals into tactile experiences.