White woman standing in front of a black background. She has brown hair with blonde money pieces in the front. Her hair is half up-half down with buns. She is smiling, and wearing a black tank top and a black and white striped cardigan

Robyn Casey

BA (Hons) Design for Film
Field Cauldron

Passed down through generations, this box granted witches the ability to run at a moments notice whislt making sure they're not empty handed. The latest owner however, found that it's portability served a better use: hunting monsters.
Rather than a bag full of weapons to counter attacks from monsters, all the witch needs is a few ingredients and on-the-go intuition for her to be able to weaken or take down her enemys with any potion she brews in the field cauldron— though that's not to say she goes without her trusty ritual blade.

an open box containing many jars and test tubes, with the top folded out to hold a cauldron and a chopping board with cloves scattered on it and a knife on top. In front is a tipped over jar or small bones and an upright jar of cloves
an open box containing many jars and test tubes, with the top folded out to hold a cauldron and a chopping board with cloves scattered on it and a knife on top. In front is a tipped over jar or small bones and an upright jar of cloves
A Closed leather-bound box, with a shoulder strap. The straps are closed. There are stickers of ghosts, cats, and a bunny on the front, and two keychains of a cat and a monkey. on the side
A Closed leather-bound box, with a shoulder strap. The straps are closed. There are stickers of ghosts, cats, and a bunny on the front, and two keychains of a cat and a monkey. on the side
Close up of the open box. There are cloves scttered on the cutting board with the knife resting next to it. A hand is dropping in green liquid into the cauldron, taken from the right-side.
Close up of the open box. There are cloves scttered on the cutting board with the knife resting next to it. A hand is dropping in green liquid into the cauldron, taken from the right-side.
Closed leather-bound box, being worn by the shoulder-strap by someone in jeans and a hoodie. There are stickers on the front and top of cats, ghosts, potion bottles and a rabbit.
Closed leather-bound box, being worn by the shoulder-strap by someone in jeans and a hoodie. There are stickers on the front and top of cats, ghosts, potion bottles and a rabbit.
Close up of the knife inside the box, resting in it's velvet pillow. Underneath it are the ingredient jars and test tubes.
Close up of the knife inside the box, resting in it's velvet pillow. Underneath it are the ingredient jars and test tubes.
Top-down image of the open box. The knife is on it's pillow, with ingredient jars beneath lined up in base of the box. The test tubes are directly below the knifes pillow.
Top-down image of the open box. The knife is on it's pillow, with ingredient jars beneath lined up in base of the box. The test tubes are directly below the knifes pillow.
Close up of the open box. There are cloves scttered on the cutting board with the knife resting next to it. A hand is dropping in green liquid into the cauldron, taken from the left side.
Close up of the open box. There are cloves scttered on the cutting board with the knife resting next to it. A hand is dropping in green liquid into the cauldron, taken from the left side.
Objectives

The primary objective for this project was to take the organised nature of monster hunters in shows such as Supernatural and translate it to a witch-based character, where instead of a go-bag full of weapons it is a go-box full of different ingredients to create any potion she might need to fit the situation whether it be with taking the monsters down or healing herself and any allies she makes along her way.
The goal of the design was to make it appear as though it would have been passed through generations of witch's before being given to the latest holder who would modernise it and personalise it by decorating with the likes of stickers and keychains. I wanted it to have easy-access storage and contain a cauldron for her to brew her potions in. The box would fold out into a mini work station.
It would contain a multitude of ingredients stored seperately in order to brew whatever was needed, being able to be filled at her home-base.
The box would also hold the witch's ritul knife, another item I wanted to have appear as though it was old and passed down through different generations, featuring some sort of inscription. As well as the hero knife, I had a goal of making a stunt version that would be safely switched out for any possible scenes requiring a knife when potions fail.

Outcomes

The box was designed after old Victorian-era leather-bound chests, combining it with the functionality of makeup storage boxes or fishing tackle boxes. I struggled with installing the hinges, never having done something like that, and learned just how important the precise measurements are for the small details such as that
I succeeded in getting the box to fold out to give a mini work station, with an area for the cauldron to sit over a contained fire and a chopping board to crush or chop any ingredients necessary. These areas also provided storage accessible once folded out, allowing for the cauldron itself to be put away neatly, as well as the handle, and the matches and kindling needed for the fire to light. The fire pit contains irish in it's inscriptions; "Tríd cumacht an tine sa coirne tá an chun insil san uisce".
The inside was lined with aged paper, and a piece of blue foam had the shape of the knife carved out and was covered in velvet, a difficult task when trying to avoid glue seeping through which i struggled with.
I based the knife off Victorian hunting knives, inscribing "fairsingíonn an cumhacht" on the blade. The molding of the knife caused some difficulty, the first mold of the blade coming out wrong, however I was quick to solve the issue and learned the major importance of the different types of molds for different items, something I know to think out more carefully in the future.

White woman standing in front of a black background. She has brown hair with blonde money pieces in the front. Her hair is half up-half down with buns. She is smiling, and wearing a black tank top and a black and white striped cardigan
Robyn Casey
BA (Hons) Design for Film

Born and raised in Dublin, I did primary and secondary education through Irish. I always enjoyed art and making things, having started cosplaying when I was 14. I'd sew my own costumes and make my own props and accesories, always eager to try new techniques and learn new things to bring my favourite characters from movies, tv-shows or games to life. I continue making art in my spare times— sculpting ball-jointed dolls, making earrings, micro-crocheting and more.

BA (Hons) Design for Film