Sam Tomkins

About the work

I.A. – Interstitial Animacy (2026) explores the way contemporary objects quietly act in service to us. The lamp consists of a parametric 3D-printed form in clear recycled PETG and uses responsive microcontrollers to subtly alter its illumination in response to human movement. Interstitial Animacy is an object of 2020s, the now, where we are losing our collective comprehension of technology that isn’t intuitively making our lives easier and more luxurious. At first glance, these interactions feel almost effortless, yet they are the result of carefully considered design principles, testing and research in fields like user experience, and an intimate understanding of human behaviour and environmental preferences. The work invites us to consider how contemporary technologies have become increasingly attentive, anticipating our needs and shaping our experience of space through systems of convenience and service.

Life Support (2026) is a form with multiple functions and suggestions. Both bench and planter, the work supports both human and plant needs. Constructed from aluminium foam, a material whose porous, cellular structure sits somewhere between the industrial and the biological, it brings visibility to a material designed to remain hidden, whether as a crumple zone, structural filler, or acoustic dampener. Paired with living flora, the work blurs the boundaries between natural and engineered systems, revealing the overlooked materials that quietly support everyday life.

Images

About the artist

Sam Tomkins is a Kanbarra (Canberra) based industrial designer, educator, and nationally awarded design practitioner. His practice explores the systems of design, manufacturing, and sustainability, using additive manufacturing and recycled plastics to create new object typologies from local waste streams. Through these carefully considered processes, Tomkins reveals how thoughtful design can reshape the everyday systems of production and consumption that underpin contemporary life.