The Placebo Pebble was born from a personal moment of stress and feeling overwhelmed. I work a demanding job and have a toddler and newborn at home, and during one particularly hectic day, I found unexpected calm by holding a naturally indented river pebble — something simple and tactile that helped ground me in the moment.

Dissatisfied with commercial worry stones, I decided to create my own that matched the feel of that original river pebble. I learned 3D modeling, refined the shape to something subtle yet satisfying, and 3D printed multiple renditions to make a smooth, premium object that was sleek, durable, and easy to carry.

Rather than claiming wellness buzzwords, I leaned into the power of the placebo effect — because belief, ritual, and touch can be powerful tools for the mind.

Designing the Placebo Pebble involved iteration, experimentation, and simplicity. I experimented with several bowl depths and shapes until it felt just right — almost invisible, but deeply tactile. Every version was printed, sanded, and tested until it was perfect.