Evoking senses beyond the visuals. Time fades, memory stays. Photograph records the visuals; perfume retells the scents; how about our tactility?

Thanks to the growing popularity of social media, the emphasis of visual is far boosted against tactility and touch, forming the phenomenon of imageries obsession or even indulgence. Yet, thefact that touch is the only sense that brings you a genuinely authentic experience.

Aggrieved by the absence of medium to recall tactility, Napp Studio is proudly to present the unprecedented textural memory library through the latest 3D printing technique that recalls a touch you cherish. Hands as smooth as a sand dune; eyebrows as spiky as a hedgehog… Napp Studio explored different textural inspirations, ranging from sublime nature to exquisite creatures.

Design

Liud is a textural memory, it is a ring inside-out. It ‘touches’ you with the internal line of texture instead of showing to the public. Concealing the ‘touch’ under the mask of a plain ring, yet revealing for a glimpse through its edge. Shy but sensual, Liud links the ‘touch’ of your skin, a ‘touch’ you share with your love. Evoking senses beyond the visuals.

Naming

Liud originates from the inverted image of the word ‘ring’. It symbolises a new kind of jewellery that represents subversion on its normal conception. Napp Studio upholds a high degree of focus on the internal texture rather than the external look and turns a ring inside-out. Napp Studio introduces intricacy and sensibility into Liud that is familiar but unusual, subtle but memorable. Liud is a textural memory for one to feel rather than see.

Production

While traditional ink-jet printing reproduces information on a 2-dimensional layer for readers to read, Napp Studio wishes to print content of stories in a 3-dimensional entity for feelers to feel. Liud is 3D printed in US which is available in 90% Pure Copper or 92.5% Pure Silver. To create a “touch” of Liud, the ring is designed down to every detail as tiny as 0.125mm which pushes precious metal 3D printing to its limit. Each ring goes through a complex production process.

1. The ring is printed in wax by a 3D printer specialized for high resolution prints.

2. The wax print is placed in a container which is then filled with liquid plaster.

3. After the plaster is fully set, the wax is removed by melting in a furnace. The plaster mold is then ready for casting
the final ring in metal.

4. The plaster mold is filled with liquid metal which solidifies quickly. The final metal ring is retrieved by breaking the plaster mold.

5. The final ring is polished mechanically and/or manually to achieve the level of smoothness desired.

Collection

01. Sandi & Sandro (bronze: 119usd/ silver: 159usd)

Smoothness of Sand Dune.

Sand is a material that comes from natural weathering of rock inland. Its size bears the witness of time and its texture the memory of time. With the metaphorical meaning of the passage of time, we hope Sandi and Sandro can symbolise memories of yours in the past that shall last for thousands of years.

02. Canya & Canio (bronze: 119usd/ silver: 159usd)

Roughness of Slot Canyon.Slot

Canyon is a deep crack created by the prolonged rushing of water through sandstone or limestone. Its formation is a memory of rainfalls. As raindrops converge into a network of small creeks, they are powerful enough to carve the land through time. We hope Canya and Canio can evoke a series of small memories you share with someone and together they become something remarkable.

03. Oceana & Oceanus (bronze: 119usd/ silver: 159usd)

Restlessness of ocean.

Our third textural inspiration is ocean, a persistent body of saline water that is constantly changing and flowing. Ocean has been a source for numerous adventures. While it is easy to get lost in its vastness, it gives rise to countless stories of explorers who manage to find their way through.

04. Scalet & Scarpa (bronze: 119usd/ silver: 159usd)

Scales of pangolins.

In some African cultures, pangolins were regarded as a “the king of the beasts” due to their peculiarities. They are covered in scales like fish but they dislike water. They also roll up themselves into a sphere under threats. This they have been a source of imagination for many African cultures.

05. Finley & Finn (bronze: 119usd/ silver: 159usd)

Fins of mushrooms.

In ancient Egypt, mushrooms were treated as sacred objects sent by Gods through lightning. It was believed that mushrooms had the effect of immortality and only Pharaohs could consume mushroom for this reason. And even nowadays, in some Asian culture, certain kinds of mushrooms are still used us symbol of longevity.

06. Spika & Spike (bronze: 119usd/ silver: 159usd)

Spikes of hedgehogs.

It was believed that the hedgehog was the spring forecaster for the Romans. Hedgehogs hibernate underground and reappear only when spring comes, they are the symbol of rebirth. Ancient Egyptian made amulets of hedgehogs carrying such meaning.

Packaging

The packaging is designed specifically for magnifying and revealing the “touch” of Liud visually. Through a transparent marble embedded between two layers of acrylic plates in the packaging, the “touch” can be seen under magnification. Composed of materials of various kinds, e.g. paperboard, metal strip, acrylic and then marble, the unpacking process is designed to be a journey of revelation.

Ordering
On 14th March, Liud has officially opened for public on Kickstarter platform for a 30-day period offering super-early bird/ early bird discount (from 69-119usd).

Kickstarter link: kck.st/2mlLQsa
Official website: www.liud.co
Promotional video: vimeo.com/204179748
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nappstudio
Email: liud@nappstudio.com