The clothes chair and 15 other objects designed for new behaviours

Inspired by the mechanic’s lamp, Mayday is an emblem of versatility, reflecting the needs of an increasingly nomadic user seeking multifunctionality. Lightweight and easy to carry, it can be used on a work surface, hung from a hook, or suspended from the ceiling—a synthesis of floor, table, and pendant lamps. Thanks to its long cable—exceptionally long in the outdoor version—that cleverly wraps around its handle, Mayday can be used even when power outlets are not within reach. Made of injection-molded polypropylene, it epitomizes accessible and democratic design, blending aesthetic appeal with affordability, allowing design enthusiasts on a modest budget to express their tastes.

We are becoming increasingly conscious of spinal health, and unconventional seating solutions are gaining traction. Inspired by the posture one adopts while riding, the Saddle Stool keeps the body active by engaging the leg muscles and encouraging a non-curved spinal position.

Bloon’s fitball operates on the same principle of constant spinal mobility. Borrowed from the world of fitness, it demands an active leg posture for balance. To integrate into domestic spaces, the fitball has been reimagined with a textile cover that makes it more suitable for living rooms than gyms.

One of the most iconic furniture pieces of the 2010s, this multifunctional structure resembles a micro-architecture. Contrary to the assumption that it’s best suited to small spaces, this unclassifiable piece claims center stage in any room, acting as a statement for those who find in its minimalist, colorful design a mental haven for focus and reflection.

Can an object hide its true function while pretending to have another? Absolutely, reflecting a growing appreciation for divertissement that is steadily finding legitimacy in the homes of the most discerning design enthusiasts. Charrié’s Surfaces Sonores follows this playful logic. Disguised as a sculptural wooden screen, it conceals speakers that vibrate as soon as an acoustic resonator is placed against them, surprising anyone unaware of its mechanism.

photo: Damien Arlettaz

The statistics are clear: in urban spaces, particularly in megacities, apartments are becoming increasingly smaller. This compels us to develop new strategies for managing the presence of essential objects. Jongha Choi offers a brilliant response to this challenge. When folded and hung on the wall, his metal stool-low table takes the form of a hyper-graphic decoration. It is only when unfolded into three dimensions that its true functional nature is revealed.

Always connected and constantly bombarded by endless notifications, people are increasingly seeking new pockets of peace. Nascondino addresses this need. A hidden space for disconnecting or a distraction-free zone dedicated to meditation, Nascondino allows us to free our minds from cognitive overload, recharging through the creation of a quiet retreat.

The idea of cultivating greenery within our living spaces, using methods borrowed from industrial production, no longer feels overly forced or out of place. Born from this awareness, the Window Garden Pendant makes its way into our homes. Designed by BIG, the system enables the growth of plants through hydroponic cultivation—nurturing a small domestic oasis, whether for decorative plants, aromatic herbs, or even a few vegetables.

When Geoffrey Pascal launched Grafeiphobia, remote work was not as widespread as it is today. Yet, even eight years ago, there was a growing number of people working from their beds. Pascal designed this collection with them in mind, envisioning structures for reading, studying, and working that have nothing to do with the traditional table-and-chair combo. Instead, they aim to accommodate the body’s desire for unconventional positions. The ergonomics of Grafeiphobia mimic the posture we adopt in bed while also drawing inspiration from what NASA calls the Neutral Body Position, where the body minimizes the effort required to support itself against gravity.

After working in bed comes dining on the sofa. Increasingly common, this trend thrives during casual home gatherings—think of recently coined terms like apericena (a blend of aperitif and dinner)—where tapas or full dishes are served in abundance while seated on the couch. The coffee table from the String series caters perfectly to this lifestyle. A knob allows its height to be adjusted at will, making it suitable for a variety of uses as a surface. This design was originally created for the furnishings of the National Museum of Stockholm.

New generations of workers are embracing standing workstations, touted for their ability to improve focus and promote physical well-being, especially when alternated with seated positions. Tyde, designed by the Bouroullec brothers, is a versatile workstation system featuring extendable legs that allow for height adjustment. In office settings, it enables the creation of work surfaces at varying heights, offering the flexibility and modularity needed to support a diverse range of tasks.

Conceived during the pandemic, this furniture collection embodies the integration of multispecies coexistence within domestic spaces, in this case between two people and a parrot. The pieces—tables, chairs, and Windsor-style stools—are fitted with perches and rods, providing a landing and resting spot for the parrot. This setup fosters an opportunity for mutual companionship, creating a close-living arrangement that transcends the concept of cages and, consequently, the separation from the pet.

The Japanese studio Nendo has designed a modular sofa inspired by the Tetris video game. Like an optical illusion—a signature design feature of Oki Sato, the founder of Nendo—the sofa can be unfolded and reassembled according to needs. Its shape allows for the integration of a new module, transforming it from a two-seat to a three-seat sofa. This flexibility is increasingly sought after in domestic spaces, which are progressively moving away from fixed and unchangeable furniture systems.

Once upon a time, there was the valet stand, a tidy domestic assistant where we would typically, and often diligently, fold our clothes. The contemporary version, much more casual, is brought to us by Fabio Novembre with the new "clothes chair," developed in collaboration with Whirlpool. The starting idea stems from a study conducted by the appliance brand: many of our clothes, after being worn once, are left abandoned. The clothes chair, therefore, offers a solution to manage this chaos, but also to reduce the frequency of washing clothes. Hung on the chair’s arms, instead of being carelessly piled up, the garments can air out and be ready for re-wearing before needing a wash.

Another variation of the clothes chair, presented at the latest Dutch Design Week under the auspices of Ecover. The extendable arms can be opened to hold a week's worth of clothes, or closed to reclaim space, returning the chair to the form of a classic armchair.

What if it were the objects themselves that warm us through proximity, instead of radiators designed to heat an entire room uniformly? This premise is starting to gain traction, envisioning a future where, driven by sustainability needs, we reconsider the ways we get through our (increasingly mild) winters. The French duo Natasha Sacha, in this regard, proposes heated cushions, here covered with Kvadrat fabric and stuffed with natural horsehair foam without latex. Battery-powered, with a four-hour battery life, the cushion consumes 25 W/h, compared to the 2000 W/h of a standard heating system. Rechargeable by induction, it features a power button. Once pressed, it emits heat for fifteen minutes but can be reactivated as needed.