Design What featuring great design, architecture, fashion, graphics and innovation from across the globe.
The Sempoa chair blends traditional inspiration with modern functionality. Inspired by the Japanese Soroban abacus, it features a backrest with moving beads that offer both tactile engagement and a subtle massaging effect. The beads, mounted on stainless steel rods and held by flexible bentwood frames, move with the user's body. Crafted from intersecting solid wood boards, the design balances structured aesthetics with durability, ensuring stability, style, and inviting user interaction.
Lagos is a dining table designed for dining rooms and other shared spaces. The design uses clean lines and defined geometric shapes for a minimalist appearance. The wooden base has a textured finish that recalls cement, linking natural and urban references. The base form can vary, from traditional structures to more sculptural interpretations. The table measures 310 centimetres in width, 80 centimetres in height and 120 centimetres in depth, offering ample space for guests. Certified wood, metal and concrete finishes support durability in daily use.
Sfumato is a modular shelving system for living and office spaces. The outline of Sfumato recalls an urban skyline, wide and solid at the bottom, fragmented at the top, with a continuous horizontal base. Modules of different heights and depths are combined to create many configurations and sizes. The system can stand alone or be mounted on a wall. Open shelves display small objects, while closed doors conceal them. The body, shelves, partitions and front panels are made of MDF with a matt lacquer finish.
Frozen is a pendant lamp inspired by northern landscapes and forests. The glass shade is based on a fragment of a tree, which was scanned in three dimensions and refined in software so that the wood pattern is more pronounced and the reflections of light are richer. The shade is made of cast glass in transparent, tinted green-blue and matte white finishes, which recall winter scenery. The hole for the replaceable G4 bulb is matte, so the bulb stays hidden and the light is soft. Slim metal fasteners in a brass finish hold the cylindrical glass.
The star of the show is the molding under the seat. The design is inspired by the facade of sukiya style architecture. It is characterized by a linear composition of square timbers. The wooden parts under the seat create an intentional space, and the light shining through the gaps accentuates the texture and color of the wood. This structure brings calmness and lightness to the space, and the chair itself is designed to accentuate the space.
This is a flat package sofa designed for easy assembly and disassembly. Its unique feature lies in transforming parts of the sofa is structure into its own packaging, significantly reducing the use of packaging materials. With detachable backrests and seat cushions, these components can be fully stored within the base, reducing the packaged volume to just 1/3 of the finished product. This innovation greatly lowers the overall costs associated with packaging, storage, and transportation.