MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM HELMETS
Client: Uniqlo USA in NY
Request: Design and fabricate twelve (12) Gundam helmets for merchandising mannequins to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Japanese anime Mobile Suit Gundam
Timeline: 1 week
Design process: Requirements gathering, ideation, prototyping, manufacturing
Development software: Rhino 7, Adobe Photoshop
Manufacturing methods: SLA 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC routing, vacuum forming, sanding, spray painting, liquid dyeing
Gundam helmets displayed in-store
REQUIREMENTS
Inspiration for the helmets
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the iconic Japanese anime Mobile Suit Gundam, Uniqlo USA commissioned the creation of helmets worn by the main characters of the anime, Ray Amuro and Saylah Mass.
The helmets were to be used as merchandising displays for the launch of their collaboration with Bandai in Uniqlo’s NY Fifth Avenue flagship store.
IDEATION
MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The helmets were fabricated in industrial SLA printers.
Due to the limited space in the 3D printers, the helmets were 3D printed in several parts which were then taped and glued together.
The seams were sanded before applying the primer and spray paint.
For the visors, I created a mold out of particleboard using a CNC router and used that mold to vacuum form the visors. The white helmet visors were dip-dyed in blue, and the yellow visors were dip-dyed in green.
SALES FLOOR DISPLAY
I closely collaborated with Uniqlo’s visual design team to ensure that the designs were properly displayed across the store.
STORE WINDOW DISPLAY
Gundam helmets displayed on the store front windows of Uniqlo’s NYC Fifth Avenue Flagship store