NATIVITY

PHASE 01: Design and produce a minimalist nativity trio using natural materials as a gift for my mother

PHASE 02: Design and produce a full nativity set to include 10 pieces, find or make a safe finish, and sell them for the holiday season

Ideation

1/1

1/1

Once I had established a style for the nativity through 2D sketches I roughed out a few 3D models, quickly from scrap wood, this helped me to further establish the stylized figures and appropriate scale
The final pieces designed in phase 1 were well received and throughout the process of making and gifting them a further interest in if they were for sale was expressed, prompting me to continue on with this project and develop a product I could try selling
Moving forward into phase 2 I hoped to build out the initial three figures into a whole set and to find a natural finish that would be safe around children
I aimed for this second phase to take place in time for the upcoming holiday season in order for them to be purchased as gifts as well as for personal use

1/1

1/1

1/5

For phase II not only did I develop the design out into a full set, but I also worked with a local beekeeper to get leftover wax from harvesting the honey in order to make my own natural finish
I learned when rendering beeswax down it is best to use supplies that you are willing to only use for wax from now on because it is hard to get 100% clean again between the wax and honey residue
Working with mentors helped me through the process of pricing my own work for the first time, a skill that I have continued working on through other personal projects
If I were to revisit this project I would look into what processes could be utilized to streamline the act of finishing the figurines, specifically the sanding stage
I would also love to take a look at the branding of this project, or current lack thereof, and working on developing an online presence to sell them rather than just through word of mouth