The Shotcado
Inspired by my upbringing on an avocado farm, I set out to create an object that reflected both my roots and my evolving identity as a young adult entering the world of hosting and home-making. I wanted to design a piece that felt personal yet functional—a conversation starter While many of my peers used 3D-printed molds for control and precision, I was more interested in working with natural materials—letting their textures and imperfections lead the design of the final piece. 
Manufacturing Processes
Inspiration, Sketches, CAD, Prototyping, Molding, Sand-casting, Sanding, Drilling, Bandsaw / Router / Drill Press, Staining/Polishing
Presenting at Meet the Makers in the Stanford d.School 
The Outcome
To this day, the Shotcado is shown as an example in Stanford’s ME 103 course for its unconventional approach to prototyping. I was the only student in a class of 50+ to forgo 3D printing or synthetic materials, instead using a real avocado as both my prototype and mold. According to our professor, I was the first student he had ever seen successfully sand cast a natural object. The project became a personal reminder that meaningful design doesn’t always require high technology—sometimes, staying true to your roots and trusting your instincts can be your most powerful tool!