Meditation is known to offer mental well-being benefits by encouraging the observation of thoughts neutrally before refocusing attention on the breath or another focal point. Essentially, meditation encourages observing thoughts and emotions without fixating on positives or avoiding negatives. Even though meditation doesn’t demand equipment, meditation apps, cushions, chairs, pods, and innovative products could provide a helpful start and assist in sustaining the routine.

Designer: Lee Ye Chan

1. Meditation Chair

For anyone seeking a momentary escape from stress, the “Goyo” chair offers a compact solution. This avant-garde piece draws inspiration from Tibetan singing bowls used in meditation, featuring a rounded steel design that cocoons you in tranquility. The chair’s bowl-like shape, complemented by a smooth maple wood seat and stand, cocoons you, shielding you against stressors. Its ergonomically angled backrest and seat enhance comfort during meditation, while the option to strike the bowl produces soft, soothing sounds. While it has museum-like appearance, the chair is designed for relaxation and comfort, providing a peaceful oasis within a hectic day.

2. Outdoor Chair

Designer: Eun Whan Cho (Mootaa)

The Amplification Of The Senses Chair is a uniquely designed public seat along Seoul’s Han River. It enhances the environment’s natural sounds to create a relaxing ASMR experience. Crafted to encourage reflection and tranquility, the chair’s megaphone-shaped backrest amplifies river and nature sounds while blocking peripheral vision for focused serenity. Made from recycled plastic waste, it’s an eco-friendly effort that cleanses both the environment and the mind. Nature-focused, sustainable, and calming, these chairs redefine relaxation and environmental responsibility.

3. Meditative Pods

Designers: Deepak Chopra, Yves Behar, fuseproject for OpenSeed

The Iris pod, designed by Deepak Chopra and Yves Behar, offers a tranquil sanctuary amid bustling environments. As remote work reshapes office dynamics, integrating purposeful breaks has gained significance. Iris pods, a collaboration between OpenSeed, Deepak Chopra, fuseproject, and Yves Behar, address this need. These meditation pods, located in high-traffic areas like offices, cocoon users in peaceful isolation. Studies reveal that using Iris pods enhances workflow and meditation benefits. The pods feature essential oils, immersive sound and light tech, and guided meditations curated with Chopra’s expertise.

Designers: Mike & Maiike

A collaboration between a design studio and Headspace has birthed the Headspace Pod – a unique furniture piece designed for public spaces like offices, universities, and lobbies. Resembling a large curved mailbox, it offers a cushioned seat and backrest for comfortable meditation sessions. Free from screens or plugs, the pod promotes distraction-free meditation, aided by built-in directional audio. Three buttons inside the pod allow you to choose from 10-minute sessions for relaxation, refreshment, or focus. While not fully enclosed, its ergonomic design aims to provide a calming and focused atmosphere. Tailored for breaks in various public spaces, the Headspace Pod introduces a new way to meditate.

Designer: Thilina Liyanage

Experience nature-infused meditation with the Lakeside Meditation Pod by architect Thilina Liyanage. Resembling an egg or conch shell, this outdoor space floats on a lake, immersing yoga practitioners in natural tranquility. The pod accommodates up to 5 individuals and an instructor, accessed via a short staircase. Crafted from wood and composite panels, it blends seamlessly with its environment. Liyanage’s biophilic design approach shines through, harmonizing architecture and nature. The pod’s unique aesthetic and lakeside position offer a serene setting for meditation, capturing the essence of both design and mindfulness.

4. Yoga Friendly Cushion

Designer: Zmind Design

The Float Meditation Cushion ingeniously supports ergonomic comfort in yoga poses like the simplified lotus (padma asana) and kneeling (vajra asana). Molded foam achieves an ideal blend of firmness and comfort, enabling lengthy meditation without ankle or knee strain. Like an ergonomic office chair for meditation, the Float ensures proper limb, hip, and spine alignment, negating yoga mat-induced slouching. Rooted in ancient Indian and Japanese practices, the cross-legged and seiza kneeling poses offer digestive benefits, flexibility, improved blood flow, posture enhancement, focus, anxiety reduction, and energy revitalization. Welcoming beginners, the cushion aids in adopting these postures comfortably on any surface. Designed for simplicity and portability, it incorporates a strategic handle-like cutout, akin to a yoga mat’s convenience. Emphasizing optimal meditation posture, the cushion accommodates seated and kneeling positions and incorporates a magnetic attachment for added lumbar support by extending the backrest.

5. A Foldable Bed

Designer: Yves Behar for Opus

Integrating ‘Spatial Sound and Vibration with Established Healing Techniques’, the Opus SoundBed presents a distinct folding design that compacts to ottoman pouf dimensions. Designed by acclaimed designer Yves Béhar of fuseproject, the bed transcends being merely a therapeutic tool, resembling a chic accessory adaptable to any room and easily unfurled for meditation and healing. When fully expanded, the bed aims to offer an immersive home experience that rejuvenates the body and rejuvenates the nervous system. Through comprehensive body vibrations and spatial sound, it introduces an enhanced therapeutic approach that aids in stress reduction and the release of happiness-associated hormones.

6. Meditation Headset

Designer: Layer Design for Resonate

In today’s stress-ridden world, a tech-integrated meditation headset offers much-needed solace. Layer Design’s LightVision headset, crafted for Resonate, transforms meditation into an enchanting experience. LED lights create dynamic visuals that emerge as biomorphic patterns, engaging closed eyes to trigger the brain’s frequency-following response. Wrapped in textile casing, the minimal, ergonomic design comfortably envelops the face, fostering distraction-free tranquillity. While its effectiveness raises intrigue about potential eye strain, if resolved, this headset could be the stress-relieving catalyst sought by the modern world. By merging sensory input and technology, it elevates meditation routines, potentially ushering in a new era of mental well-being.

7. Desktop-Friendly Zen Garden

Designers: Project Rotate x Yuki Kawae

Scaled for desktop Zen gardens, Project Rotate and Zen Garden artist Yuki Kawae collaborate on a collection of Kawaerakes and hand rakes. These downsized tools bring the meditative art of sand raking to compact spaces. Groove and ridge sets, each comprising six handheld rakes, offer diverse sand designs with their natural wood handles and white trimming. Kawae’s traditional hand rakes, featuring longer handles, allow for intricate designs. Completing the set is a sand leveller for a fresh start. Project Rotate’s simple yet innovative rake profiles amplify creative possibilities, enhancing the Zen Garden experience with intuitive tools for mindfulness and imagination.

8. Hand-held Meditation Device

Designer: MindNap

The portable MindNap device enhances meditation by guiding deep breathing. With thumb-placed metal pads detecting biosignals, it vibrates gently for inhaled and exhaled cues. Paired with an app, one can choose from creativity, focus, relaxation, or energy settings. By analyzing internal cues like heart rate and BMP, it tailors breathing patterns to desired states, reducing stress and anxiety while improving focus and creativity. It energizes too, boosting blood flow. Available in two colors, the MindNap includes a portable leather case for on-the-go clarity and sanity in today’s demanding times.

9. Zen Alarm Clock

Designer: Mudita

For non-morning people, the Mudita Bell calming alarm clock offers a natural wake-up call based on circadian rhythms. It replaces pre-sleep phone scrolling with its E-Ink screen, reducing blue light exposure. Minimalist design soothes eyes pre-bed and upon waking. With acoustic sounds, it gently wakes without irritation. The clock tracks air quality and suggests improvements like humidifiers for healthier sleep. It also includes preset meditation timers, promoting overall wellness.

10. Breathing Assistive Stone

Designers: Wenxi Qi and Hengbo Zhang

Ayama, an iF Design Talent Award-winning device, aids anxiety with rhythmic breathing. Resembling a stone, it expands and contracts using integrated motors for pranayama techniques, clearing energy channels to induce calm. Intuitive and adjustable, Ayama offers modes like ujjayi and kapalabhati to combat stressors, enhancing focus and tranquility. The wireless charging zen garden serves as a reminder for emotional well-being. By simplifying pranayama, Ayama empowers users to battle anxiety’s challenges, promoting relaxation and balance through a button-press and controlled breath.

To initiate your meditation practice, try experimenting to discover what aligns with your personality and daily routine. Begin with straightforward techniques, gradually extending your session time, without feeling obligated to engage in lengthy sessions.

The post Top 10 Products That Elevate Your Meditation Practice first appeared on Yanko Design.

Governors Point, an exclusive residential enclave, sits on a pristine 125-acre peninsula in Washington’s Salish Sea. Envisioned by acclaimed architect Omer Arbel, this unique community offers an exquisite mix of luxury living and deep respect for the environment. The development features 16 custom waterfront homes that blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Each home is crafted to celebrate the raw beauty of the area, ensuring it complements rather than overpowers the natural setting.

Designer: Omer Arbel

Governors Point’s history adds depth to its current form. Originally, the site was slated for over 300 homes and multiple marinas, but a transformative partnership between design entrepreneur Randy Bishop and the Whatcom Land Trust shifted its destiny. Their focus was on conservation, turning Governors Point into a haven for both residents and nature.

Exterior Design: Blending With Nature

The exterior of each home at Governors Point reflects Omer Arbel’s innovative approach to merging architecture with nature. The homes are placed strategically along the peninsula, with some landward facades partially buried to reduce their visual presence and make them part of the landscape.

On the west-facing side, a “cloudlike” exterior skin made from cedar burl offcuts adds a striking visual feature. These cedar pieces, described as “boulder-shaped modules,” are mounted on metal standoffs and gently sway, creating a kinetic effect. Over time, moss and lichens will grow on these surfaces, adding a living, evolving element to the design.

Roofs are designed to allow the forest to grow over them, making the homes seem like natural extensions of the landscape. This design choice also offers energy efficiency, as the forest provides natural insulation.

Paths leading to the homes are discreet, guiding residents through nature in a way that contrasts the enclosed feeling of the homes—often opening up dramatically to views over the cliffs. These paths are set between retaining walls, enhancing the contrast between entering underground spaces and emerging to cliff-edge views. Landscaping is restricted to just 3,000 square feet per 1.5-acre lot, ensuring that most of the natural flora is preserved. This careful planning maintains the native beauty of Governors Point, keeping ecological integrity at the forefront.

The design also respects the existing kayak route along the shoreline, ensuring that the natural recreational pathways remain unobstructed and inviting for kayakers.

Interior Design: Seamless Flow Indoors and Out

The interior of each Governors Point home reflects Arbel’s commitment to creating harmony between luxury and nature. The homes are capped at 2,900 square feet, maintaining a modest size that fits within the environment.

Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows bring in sweeping views of the Salish Sea and San Juan Islands, flooding rooms with natural light. These windows create a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces, making the landscape a natural part of the home’s interior.

The living room design beautifully showcases this philosophy, featuring woven leather chairs and a low-profile marble coffee table. The living area opens directly to the outdoors, framed by boulder-like modules connecting the home to the natural world. The use of earthy tones and tactile fabrics throughout the living room maintains a sense of warmth and cohesion, while built-in shelves add functionality without overwhelming the space.

The materials used throughout the homes, like locally sourced wood and stone, add warmth and texture, while low-VOC paints and reclaimed wood floors keep the building process eco-friendly.

Fixtures from Arbel’s design firm, Bocci, are featured throughout, including custom glass pendants that bring a unique glow to the rooms. The collaboration between Omer Arbel and Bocci goes back nearly two decades, allowing Bocci’s luxurious finishes to integrate seamlessly into Arbel’s architectural projects. Skylights and open floor plans ensure that natural light fills every corner, enhancing the spaciousness while connecting each room to the outdoors.

In the kitchen, an elegant concrete finish defines the space, with natural textures continuing to enhance the connection between indoor and outdoor environments. This description is based on conceptual design elements rather than a confirmed source from the images or documents provided. Large windows frame views of the sea, while the design focuses on subtle built-in features, such as hidden storage and a minimalist aesthetic, ensuring the kitchen is functional and stylish.

The Parametric Approach: Architecture With Variation

Omer Arbel takes a parametric design approach at Governors Point—meaning the homes are crafted within a set of guidelines that allow for natural variations. Each home follows core principles but adapts to the specific conditions of its location.

For example, cedar burl offcuts on the west-facing facades are arranged within set parameters but come together in unique compositions. This gives every home its personality while maintaining a consistent architectural language across the community.

Arbel’s process involves setting constraints and letting materials and site-specific factors guide the final design. This approach allows the architecture to adapt to the environment, making each home a reflection of its surroundings.

It turns construction into a creative, evolving process that celebrates unpredictability and uniqueness. Arbel also extends this parametric philosophy to interior fixtures, using materials like copper and glass to adapt to the living spaces’ flow.

The master bedroom continues the organic design language with a feature wall that mimics the boulder-shaped modules seen outside. The furniture, including the bed and integrated shelving, balances the ruggedness of natural materials and refined craftsmanship. Custom Bocci lighting adds a sculptural quality, casting soft light that enhances the serene atmosphere.

A Commitment to Sustainability

Governors Point is a model of sustainable architecture, with 98 of the 125 acres set aside as a nature reserve managed by the Whatcom Land Trust. This area features a 2.5-mile public access loop trail, allowing residents and visitors to explore the peninsula’s stunning natural beauty, including access to beaches and viewpoints on both sides.

Keeping most of the land as a nature reserve helps protect local ecosystems, balancing development and conservation.

Each residence is capped at 2,900 square feet, with an additional 1,100 square feet allowed for garages or outbuildings. By limiting the size of the homes and restricting manicured landscaping, the development ensures that the natural surroundings remain untouched as much as possible.

Using sustainable materials, such as repurposed cedar burl offcuts for exterior cladding, reduces waste and promotes regional resource efficiency. Governors Point also bans using pesticides and harmful chemicals, protecting the local flora and fauna.

Energy efficiency is key in architectural planning, with large windows designed to optimize passive solar heating while offering stunning views. The project maintains a low-density footprint by limiting the development to only 16 homes on the 27 developed acres, reducing habitat disruption and preserving wildlife corridors.

The design blends the homes into the landscape with natural features like buried facades and forest-covered roofs, setting a new standard for eco-conscious luxury.

The post Governors Point is the Ultimate Eco-Luxury Escape You’ll Wish You Lived In first appeared on Yanko Design.

Every once in a while, I’ll come across a horror story on my feed about accidents involving furniture toppling over and badly hurting someone. As a regularly clumsy person, it is not outside the realm of possibility that I may be a victim of this someday. The STURDY Act (Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth) is a welcome development for kids and grown-ups alike. IKEA has now become the first to apply this into their new furniture line.

Designer: IKEA

The Storklinta and Gullaberg collection from IKEA come with their patented Anchor and Unlock mechanism which took into consideration the aforementioned STURDY Act’s guidelines. This way, they have made sure that their furniture are safe especially for young kids but still have the design and style associated with the Swedish brand. When properly installed, this mechanism lets you use the items as they’re meant to be used without the risk of it tipping over, even when multiple drawers are opened.

The Gullaberg collection is classic IKEA with its framed sides, tapered legs, and white and gray finishes. There are several dressers, chests, wardrobes, nightstands, and combinations available in the collection. The Storklinta has a more sleek and contemporary design and also comes with chests, drawers, bedside tables, and wardrobe combinations with the PAX system. These furniture come with clean, integrated handles.

Both collections are already available in the IKEA US stores and online but there are still some items that have limited stocks. They will also be launching more safety-enhanced designs later this year. As always, these are items that are self-assembled so you still need to be able to follow instructions on these Anchor and Unlock mechanisms for the furniture to be truly safe.

The post IKEA unveils Anchor and Unlock safety mechanism in two new collections first appeared on Yanko Design.

Space Perspective offers life-changing trips to the edge of space in the world’s first carbon-neutral spaceflight. This spaceship dubbed Neptune features a breathtaking design. It’s a capsule with special UV reflective coated largest glass windows ever flown to space providing occupants an unparalleled view from the space lounge inside containing eight state-of-the-art chairs designed both for comfort and aerospace experience.

The innovative seating solution for Neptune’s passengers is visibly inspired by the lounge chairs. It seamlessly merges the luxury and comfort of the lounge chair with the safety requirements of space travel to ensure the guests have not only a comfortable seat but a safe one at that.

Designer: Of My Imagination

Dubbed Aerospace Seat SPN-01, these eight dark-blue chairs in the space lounge are lightweight, functional, and safe. While meeting travel safety standards, these chairs also provide umpteen luxury courtesy of the floating backrest, ergonomic flexibility, and modular cushioning.

These aerospace seats blend a modular pad system with adjustable cushions for ergonomic comfort. Owing to their contoured shape and arced headrest, the chairs nicely cradle their passengers during the critical phases of launch and landing. Due to their positioning (each facing outwards) in the roomy space lounge, each seat has a panoramic 360-degree view through the large capsule windows.

Whilst being designed to comfort anxious passengers in their cocooning environment, the Aerospace Seat SPN-01 is easy to repair and has adjustable features to balance comfort with functionality. Designed by @ofmyimagination the chairs are twined in pairs inside of the space capsule designed to promote conversation and foster shared experiences. The chairs are placed adjacent to each other to encourage passengers to speak with each other. Each set of chairs features a mini wooden table in between that doubles as a desk. Every chair has a storage section underneath where passengers can stow their personal belongings.

The post This chair with floating backrest, ergonomic flexibility, and modular cushioning is designed for space travel first appeared on Yanko Design.

Herman Miller is known better for its consortium of office chairs than for gaming chairs. But its gaming division: Herman Miller Gaming, has a new, artistic vision to turn some eyes its way. The furniture giant has partnered with FAILE, a brainchild of Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller, to revive the nostalgia of the Arcades, Ataris, and Nintendos of the ‘80s through painting and printmaking approach on chairs, wooden Joysticks, and printed posters.

The initial idea for Herman Miller and FAILE collaboration was to work with the prints collection of the former. McNeil and Miller, however, saw varying opportunities in the furniture maker’s gaming repertoire and besides gaming-inspired printed posters and tangible painted joysticks with whimsical game-like characters, they have gone ahead to give colorful art love to Herman Miller’s ergonomic gaming seat.

Designer: Herman Miller Gaming x FAILE

Brooklyn-based collaboration between artists Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller, FAILE, has been blurring the lines between fine art and popular culture through painting and printmaking. The choice of material is little of significance, since their collaboration since 1999, the two artists have worked with a range of materials ranging from traditional canvas to sculptures, from window pellets to wooden boxes and their idea of transforming the Embody Gaming Chair into a piece of exceptional art is therefore no surprise.

McNeil and Miller have characterized 12 variants of the Embody, using its seat and back as the canvas of distinction similar to skateboard decks. According to the duo, through the artwork, they intend to bring to ‘Herman Miller Gaming that which was not in the digital realm but captured some of the character making of gaming.’ This also extends into the creation of joysticks, which have a tactile wood feel and personality of their own that uniquely comes to life depending on the setting they’re used in.

FAILE and Herman Miller have created 100 unique characters, based on drawings and doodles. Each of these is handcrafted and painted with hand for uniqueness. While the chairs are designed exclusively for the Herman Miller Gaming archives, and are not available to purchase. Joysticks and prints are available for preorder and will go on retail starting October 1 for $995 and $250 respectively. If you want an experience of the artistic collection before committing to it, you can check them out in an installation in New York from September 27 through September 29.

The post Herman Miller Gaming x FAILE artistic gaming chairs and character joysticks are impressive first appeared on Yanko Design.

Anyone who has owned a cat will know the truth about who is really the master and who is the pet. Although they can definitely be cuddly and sentimental, furry felines are also known to be temperamental and territorial. And by that, it usually means that any place in the house can be their territory. All kidding aside, cats tend to love squeezing into tight spaces, even when you’ve already provided a lush, comfy, and unfortunately very open bed. Embracing the behavior of cats and how they can be central to owners’ lives, these concept designs envision furniture for humans that cats will appreciate, or rather, cat furniture that just happens to be usable by humans.

Designer: Jing-Cyuan Tang

For reasons unfathomable to all except their regal kind, cats love to squeeze into cramped spaces. Of course, they’ll still enjoy plush beds, but give them a box or a tube and their natural instincts kick in. So why not just design sleeping furniture that appeals to this behavior directly instead? Bonus points if it can also be used by their human owners, potentially letting them bond even better when resting in the same place.

That may be the thinking behind this rather unusual set of cat-friendly furniture design concepts. Or perhaps they’re human-friendly cat furniture designs. Either way, these chairs will be enjoyable to both parties, though their maintenance will probably be less so for humans. The common theme these chairs have are the armrests that act like dark tunnels, enticing cats to go inside to nap. There’s ample space for a cat or even two, so it’s not exactly a cramped and uncomfortable space at all.

Two variants of these armchair designs exist. Perhaps the more interesting one of the two has an armrest that goes around the back of the chair, creating a single tunnel that cats can walk through from end to end. There is also a more modest version where the armrests swap out tunnels for shelves, allowing owners to put other things on the side that won’t be used by the cat, presuming the cat doesn’t claim that space and pushes the vase off the shelf.

There is even a stool design where the very low backrest curves inward, creating that same tunnel shape where the cat can lie inside behind you. Truth be told, the seats don’t look too comfortable, especially with the backrests so low. They might have been unintentionally designed with feline comfort as the priority, showing who the real master of the house is. That said, they are indeed interesting designs and, to some extent, quite feasible, though the question of how to clean up after the cat inside those armrests still remains.

The post Quirky chair concepts are made for both humans and their feline masters first appeared on Yanko Design.

An “ergonomic chair” is designed to accommodate a wide range of individuals but must be tailored to the user’s body dimensions, workstation, and tasks for true ergonomics. Prolonged sitting, despite requiring less physical effort than demanding tasks, poses significant health risks such as back pain, stiff necks, and leg numbness, strain muscles, ligaments, and tendons, increasing the risk of discomfort and injury. Corrections are necessary for better ergonomics and to prevent discomfort or injury. Here are features to consider when selecting an ergonomic chair.

Designer: Stan Deng

1. Seat Height

An adjustable seat height is essential for comfort, allowing your feet to rest flat on the floor ensuring that most individuals can keep their feet flat on the ground, maintain horizontal thighs, and align their arms evenly with the desk height. Note that a seat height range of 16 to 21 inches is usually comfortable for most people.

The NEWTRAL MagicH chair adapts to the user with an auto-following backrest and headrest, providing support whether sitting upright, leaning forward, or reclining. It accommodates various sitting styles, ensuring comfort and promoting healthy posture. The Pro model includes a foldable footrest and 4D Extended Armrest for comprehensive support, with adjustable features tailored to individual needs, enhancing overall comfort and preventing injuries.

2. Seat Width and Depth

The seat dimensions should ensure comfort by accommodating individual height and body shapes. It should maintain a depth that leaves 2 to 4 inches between its edge and the back of your knees to avoid excessive pressure.

Designer: Yubin Lee and Minkyoung Song

The Routine Chair by Yubin Lee and Minkyoung Song is a smart, ergonomic chair that adjusts the headrest, armrests, and reclining angle based on an app-controlled schedule. Designed for optimal comfort and productivity, it offers three modes—work, chill, and rest—automatically adapting to the user’s routine. Competing with top brands like Herman Miller, this innovative chair ensures seamless comfort and support, making it ideal for professionals in a digital work environment.

3. Seat Tilt

In office chairs, the tilt mechanism plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy, properly aligned spine and back. The tension and strength within the tilt mechanism ensure adequate support for your back.

Designer: 250 Design

The 5° Chair by Seoul-based design firm 250 Design is tailored for those who naturally lean back in chairs. With 360° rotation, forward and backward tilting, and lateral movement up to 5 degrees, it offers dynamic seating for office or home use. Designed to support prolonged sitting, its cushioning molds to the body’s contours, while angled wave springs reinforce the legs for multidirectional tilting. This compact chair, ideal for small spaces, replaces traditional wheels with a swivel and spindle mechanism, ensuring stability and support without sacrificing mobility.

4. Backrest Lumbar Support

Lower back support is vital in an ergonomic chair to maintain the natural curve of the lumbar spine. An essential feature of ergonomic chairs, lumbar support maintains the spine’s natural curve, reducing stress and preventing slumping. Adjustable backrests ensure optimal alignment for user comfort.

Designer: AMDL Circle for Mara

The Typo Office Chair by AMDL Circle, designed for Mara, excels in providing comfort, ergonomics, and aesthetics, all essential for productivity. Its playful yet ergonomic design boasts a curved timber base and backrest, complemented by a colorful metal structure. This intentional blend of materials not only enhances comfort but also adds personality to the chair, turning what might seem like a mistake into a defining feature.

Designer: LEVUS

The LEVUS offers a reclined work setup, perfect for reducing back pain and discomfort for those who spend long hours at a computer. Ideal for both home and office use, it features an adjustable, lightweight aluminum structure that supports multiple monitors and includes an adjustable headrest, mouse station, and keyboard table. The ergonomic design reduces vertical spine pressure, making it a comfortable choice for gamers, creators, and office workers alike. Easy to assemble and designed for ultimate comfort, the LEVUS transforms traditional workstations into ergonomic havens.

5. Backrest Recline

The backrest of an ergonomic office chair, ideally 12 to 19 inches wide, should support the natural spine curve with proper lumbar support easing pressure on spinal disks and muscles by distributing upper body weight. If the chair has a combined seat and backrest, it should offer adjustable angles and a locking mechanism to prevent excessive backward movement.

Designer: ErgoQuest

In the dynamic landscape of offices and remote work, traditional chairs and desks often strain the spine with vertical pressure, despite the advent of standing desks. The LEVUS chair offered a reclined design as a solution, but ErgoQuest’s ZGW-0b zero-gravity reclining workstation takes innovation further. Engineered to alleviate back and neck pain, it allows for customizable work angles from zero to ninety degrees, featuring the motorized ErgoQuest ZGC-1 chair and accommodating up to four monitors on a sturdy steel mast. Packed with conveniences like side tables and a padded keyboard tray, it prioritizes comfort and productivity. The ZGW-0b represents a new paradigm in work setups, blending laziness with postural wellness for enhanced efficiency.

6. Armrests

Armrests provide valuable support during typing or using the mouse by taking the weight off your arms, reducing strain on the shoulders and upper arms. Adjustable armrests allow vertical movement to position them correctly and promote shoulder relaxation.

Designer: Nouhaus Design

The Nouhaus Ergo3D is no ordinary ergonomic chair; it’s a high-back marvel with dynamic lumbar support, 4D adjustable armrests, and a class-4 hydraulic gas-lift main pillar, all for a fraction of the price of similar models. Designed to exude luxury by Nouhaus, it offers personalized spine support and cranium comfort, thanks to its unique features like the ‘Just-For-Me’ Lumbar Support System and adjustable headrest. Clad in breathable HD ElastoMesh fabric, it ensures comfort during long hours of use.

7. Headrest

Supporting the back of the head and upper neck, it alleviates tension in the shoulders and upper torso.

8. Materials

The material covering the seat and back of the office chair should be adequately padded for extended sitting comfort, with breathable cloth fabric being preferable, while options like leather or velvet are commonly found in high-end models.

Designer: Todd Bracher

The Path Task Chair by Humanscale stands out for its sustainability, using 22 pounds of recycled materials, including ocean plastic and fishing nets. Made in the USA in a solar-powered plant, it minimizes carbon emissions and water use. The chair features FormSense Eco Knit for self-adjusting lumbar support and a Gravity Mechanism that adjusts recline support without knobs or levers. Designed by Todd Bracher, it combines innovative materials and mechanics with a sleek design, fitting seamlessly into any home or office. Available in various colors, the Path Task Chair exemplifies sustainable and ergonomic seating.

9. Wheels

Soft rubber wheels are ideal for hard surfaces, while hard wheels are better suited for carpeted floors.

Designer: Volkswagen and Try

Volkswagen’s surprising venture into office furniture yields a unique mobile office chair, blending automotive innovation with functional design. Crafted by their Commercial Vehicles division in collaboration with Try, this electric chair boasts a top speed of 12.4 m/h and a range of 7.5 miles. Complete with a rear-view camera, 360-degree sensors, and an entertainment system loaded with feel-good songs, it caters to both practicality and comfort. With storage compartments for gadgets and a trailer hitch for paperwork, it’s a whimsical yet functional addition to any workspace.

10. Swivel

For proper posture, any traditional or ergonomic chair should rotate effortlessly, enabling the user to access various areas of their desk without strain.

These tips will certainly assist you in buying the best ergonomic chair for your office or home.

The post How to Choose the Best Ergonomic Chair: Top Features You Can’t Ignore first appeared on Yanko Design.

Wood is a wonderful and preferred material choice for furniture designers since like forever. And no wonder! There’s something about wood that instantly adds a sense of zen and calm to any living space it is placed into. It puts your mind at ease while managing to radiate a feeling of warmth and tranquility. It’s a minimal material that holds a strong personality without any additional frills and tassels. I truly believe a well-crafted piece of wooden furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces. Minimal, clean, and almost always soothing, beautifully designed wooden furniture helps add the ultimate finishing touch to a room. We’ve curated a collection of wholesome wooden furniture designs for you – from a dice-inspired wooden furniture design to a desk that transforms from a work of art into a functional table.

1. Flow Wall Desk

Dubbed the Flow Wall Desk, this one-of-a-kind furniture design is functional and decorative. The desk has a basic design philosophy, making it a great fit for corporate and home offices with space constraints. The desk is also pretty eco-friendly since it has been constructed from wood.

Why is it noteworthy?

Amped with a flexible and unique form, the Flow Wall Desk can be stored and folded away when not used. When folded away, the desk seems like a visually intriguing piece of wall art. When you unfold it, it resembles a spring caterpillar which functions as a desk for you to read, work, and write on.

What we like

• Multifunctional and eco-friendly furniture design
• Equipped with a convenient flatpack form

What we dislike

• Since you need to fold and unfold the desk, you don’t have a constant setup

2. KURVE Furniture

Called the KURVE furniture collection, this minimal wooden furniture design utilizes only curves in its form. The curves are wrapped around a space, forming a hollow nook for your stuff. You can use the hollow space to place your belongings – ranging from books to accessories to shoes as well.

Why is it noteworthy?

The KURVE chair is throne-like and has no legs. It is equipped with a curved backless box for its bottom half. The furniture design is interesting since the arms, backrest, and seat are built from a single sheet of layered plywood. The sheet is bent on the back and sides, building the chair.

What we like

• Merges well with different living spaces
• You can place it near your entryway to easily store keys and shoes

What we dislike

• The aesthetics are pretty simple, and may not be preferred by everyone

3. Flat Stool

Designed by Joao Teixeria, this flat-packed furniture design is made using no extra parts, no screws, and no glue even! It still serves as a multifunctional furniture design with a unique and appealing aesthetic, unlike those mass-produced flat-packed furniture products we tend to come across in the market.

Why is it noteworthy?

What makes the stool pretty unique is how the sides can curve and bend, even though it is flat-packed. Named the Flat Stool, it uses a pretty unconventional design and even uses kerf bending on the bent areas to build a gentle curve, making it seem like the piece was shipped like that from the start.

What we like

• The kerfs and ribs serve as visual accents making the stool look pretty interesting

What we dislike

• It is a conceptual design, so we don’t know how well it will translate into a tangible product

4. Dice

Dubbed Dice, this innovative furniture piece is designed by Zurich-based Kosmos Architects. The design can be used as a stool, coffee table, leg bench, and lamp. You can turn the piece in different ways, to use it as any of the furniture variants. The piece’s multifunctionality is where the dice reference comes in.

Why is it noteworthy?

Inspired by the various numbers and dots on a dice, the Dice furniture has a four-in-one piece which makes it quite similar to a dice, although it looks nothing like one. The Dice is portable and can be moved from one place to another with ease.

What we like

• 3D-printed through KUKA robotics technology
• Looks like a wooden sculpture when not being used

What we dislike

• The aesthetics are pretty unique and eccentric, and may not be preferred by everyone

5. Altitude Shelf

Named the Altitude Shelf, this minimal and clean shelving design by Evan Clabots is inspired by lines and the simple form of traditional Japanese woodworking. It serves as a nifty storage solution that is functional and influenced by Japanese aesthetics. It is eco-friendly as well since it has a wooden ethos.

Why is it noteworthy?

Drawing inspiration from Japanese furniture design, the Altitude Shelf also has hints of traditional Danish furniture. Amped by minimal lines, and the lack of a back panel, the design is quite open and free-flowing.

What we like

• Serves as a modular design inspired by Japanese and Danish furniture

What we dislike

• Bulky space-consuming design, not well-suited for homes with space constraints

The post Top 5 Minimalist Wooden Furniture Designs To Enhance Your Home Decor first appeared on Yanko Design.

The beauty of my job lies in not just discovering the new and innovative, it’s also in discovering the bizarrely futuristic… and the Bodyfriend Quantum robotic massage chair firmly fits the latter. Spotted at IFA 2024, the chair feels less like your average massage lounger and more like a Gundam suit with a touch of luxury. Nestled in its sleek, premium leather, with built-in Bang & Olufsen speakers, the Quantum manages to blur the line between high-tech gadgetry and a luxury spa. I didn’t think a chair could make me feel this pampered, but after spending some time in it, I’m convinced—this isn’t just a massage chair; it’s a full-fledged bodygasm.

Sinking into the Quantum was like stepping into a different world, where every detail is designed to make you feel like royalty. But what really sets it apart isn’t just the leather or the fancy tech specs—it’s the attention to detail in how it delivers its massages, all while serenading you with crystal-clear audio from none other than Bang & Olufsen. Let’s just say, it’s not your average chair.

Revolutionary Design Meets Functional Innovation

At the core of the Bodyfriend Quantum is its Robo Walking Technology—a first in the industry—that gives each leg its own independent movement. And trust me, it’s not a gimmick. Sitting in the chair, you immediately notice how much more natural and personalized the massage feels, especially around the lower body. My desk-hunched spine and worn-out calves felt like they were getting precisely the kind of treatment they needed. It’s as if the chair knew what my body was asking for before I did.

This independent leg movement is more than just for show—it makes a real difference in how effectively the chair targets specific muscles. Whether you’re using it for muscle recovery or just as a fancy way to unwind after a long day, the Quantum feels like it’s been engineered with a deeper understanding of how to work the human body. After just a few minutes in it, my lower back and legs were thanking me.

Immersive Sound Through Bang & Olufsen Partnership

The partnership with Bang & Olufsen might raise a few eyebrows. Do you really need top-tier audio in a massage chair? After my experience, the answer is a pretty confident yes. The moment I leaned back and let the chair do its thing, the speakers came to life, filling the space around me with rich, immersive sound. Whether you’re into lo-fi beats, classical symphonies, or nature sounds, the high-quality audio adds a layer of relaxation that most massage chairs simply don’t offer.

It doesn’t feel like a bolted-on extra. The audio blends seamlessly with the massage itself, so whether you’re zoning out to music or catching up on your favorite podcast, the chair’s sonic experience pulls you deeper into that calm state. Benny Kang of Bodyfriend mentioned that the speakers can be used to play binaural beats too, stimulating the mind along with your body.

Precision Massage and Intuitive Control

Bodyfriend has packed a lot of tech into this chair, but it’s the execution that stands out. The XD-PRO thermal module and Finger Moving Massage Module work together to give an eerily human-like touch. It doesn’t just knead your muscles in broad strokes; instead, the chair moves in subtle, calculated increments—80 movements in 1.25mm steps to be exact. For someone who carries a lot of tension in their shoulders and lower back, it’s like having a physical therapist who knows exactly where to focus.

Then there are the finer touches—literally. With 81 air pockets wrapping your body and heat therapy zones that bring the warmth up to a balmy 50°C, the Quantum creates an environment that’s both soothing and deeply therapeutic. The heat applied to the back, calves, and soles not only relaxes muscles but also feels fantastic on sore feet, thanks to its three-step foot roller system. It’s an experience that goes beyond simple pampering.

A Touch of Luxury (and Functionality)

The 10-inch Full HD tablet mounted on the chair is intuitive and easy to navigate. There’s no fumbling with a million buttons—you can switch modes, adjust settings, or dive into the chair’s “High-End Healthcare Massage Mode” with just a tap. If you’re someone who likes control over your relaxation routine, this tablet makes it easy to fine-tune everything from intensity to heat levels without pulling you out of the experience.

It’s also worth noting that the Quantum is clearly built for longevity. The leather is buttery-soft yet durable, and the entire build feels solid and well-constructed—something you’d expect for the price tag this chair is likely to carry. But for anyone serious about integrating relaxation or recovery into their daily routine, it’s hard to imagine anything better.

A Luxurious Experience for the Wellness-Focused

The Bodyfriend Quantum is positioned for those who are serious about wellness and ready to invest in high-end healthcare technology. Its meticulous design, advanced massage features, and thoughtful additions like Bang & Olufsen speakers make it a standout product in the luxury massage chair market. While it caters to those with specific muscle stimulation needs—such as the elderly or individuals recovering from injury—it also serves as an indulgent piece of tech for anyone looking to upgrade their relaxation routine.

After my session with the Quantum, I can safely say it delivers on its promise of providing a unique massage experience. I hate to be the cliche, but I’m the millennial with lower back pain (I lugged a laptop bag around through IFA 2024), so even a 5-minute cycle with the Quantum felt like absolute bliss. Sure, it may come with a premium price, but for those looking to pamper themselves or take better care of their health, the Bodyfriend Quantum is like Chandler and Joey’s Barca-lounger on absolute steroids. You’ll probably spend hours in the chair without realizing it.

Now, if only it came with a built-in coffee machine.

The post I Sat In The $15,000 Robotic Massage Chair at IFA 2024: A Luxurious Hands-On with the Bodyfriend Quantum first appeared on Yanko Design.

A gaming chair plays a crucial role in your overall experience. Whether you’re powering through marathon sessions or just enjoying a few casual rounds, the chair you use significantly impacts your comfort and performance. The TGIF T0 is built with precision to offer a complete ergonomic solution designed to combat fatigue and ensure unparalleled comfort for professional players. With years of development and input from professional esports players, this chair quietly challenges the norms and sets a new standard in gaming chairs. By incorporating advanced technology and thoughtful design, the TGIF T0 disrupts conventional expectations, supporting your body through hours of gameplay and perfectly fitting the needs of modern setups.

Designers: Leo + Sophia

Click Here to Buy Now: $399 $649 (38% off). Hurry, only 61/100 left! Raised over $200,000.

TGIF’s experience managing a professional esports club provided deep insights into gamers’ specific needs, directly influencing the TGIF T0’s design. Professional players were involved throughout the development process, testing the chair and offering feedback that shaped its final form. This close collaboration has resulted in a chair that truly meets the demands of professional gamers, making the TGIF T0 a product born from the world of esports.

Aesthetics and Design: Where Style Meets Function

Seamlessly integrating into any gaming setup, the TGIF T0 has a sleek, modern design characterized by sharp lines and angular forms. It’s tailored to suit the gamer’s environment, offering visual appeal and functional performance. Beyond gaming, its versatile design makes it an ideal choice for office use, providing the same level of ergonomic support and comfort in any professional setting.

The TGIF T0 is only available in black, while the TGIF T0 Max is offered in gray. The finishes resist wear and tear, ensuring the chair maintains its new appearance even after heavy use. The base is built for durability and strength, with casters that glide smoothly over various floor surfaces.

Ergonomics: Science in Every Curve

This gaming chair is meticulously crafted with a strong focus on ergonomics. Engineered to endure the demands of extended gaming sessions, it reflects insights from the professional esports community. Unlike traditional chairs that prioritize appearance over functionality, the TGIF T0 is designed to support the body’s natural curves.

At the core is the TGIF T0’s proprietary patent—Dynamic Seat-Back Sync technology—a significant breakthrough in ergonomic design. This system ensures that the seat back and base move with your body, aligning with the spine’s natural shape and reducing pressure points. Whether leaning forward or reclining, the chair adjusts to your posture, enhancing stability and maintaining ergonomic alignment.

Traditional gaming chairs often lack these ergonomic elements. While they may boast flashy designs, their functionality frequently falls short. Most of them rely on rigid steel frames that don’t offer the necessary flexibility or adaptability. This lack of movement can lead to discomfort, as the chair doesn’t sync with your body’s natural motions, causing strain over long periods.

Moreover, they typically use basic foam padding that fails to provide the advanced support found in the TGIF T0. Over time, this foam can lose its shape, leading to discomfort and pressure points. Without an ergonomically designed base, these chairs might force you into awkward postures, increasing the risk of fatigue and long-term issues like back pain.

A wrap-around dual-lumbar support system provides continuous and reliable support to your lower back. The front lumbar cushion cradles your spine while rear support kicks in as you recline. This setup ensures that your lower back stays well-supported and comfortable, whether sitting upright or leaning back.

In comparison, competing gaming chairs often offer only a fixed lumbar pillow that doesn’t adjust or align properly with your spine. This can result in inadequate support, leaving your back vulnerable to discomfort and strain.

Additionally, the seat includes segmented, dual-softness cushioning that effectively addresses the hips and thighs’ distinct shapes and pressure points. The wide seat cushion provides ample space, offering increased comfort and freedom of movement, ensuring you remain comfortable even during lengthy gaming sessions. This design evenly distributes pressure while conforming to the body’s curves for maximum comfort, reducing discomfort during long periods of sitting. Fully adjustable armrests allow you to find the perfect height and angle, easing the strain on your shoulders and wrists.

Many gaming chairs have narrower seats, which can feel restrictive and limit cushioning flexibility. This design makes these chairs less comfortable, particularly for users with larger body frames or frequently shifting positions. Additionally, the armrests typically offer minimal adjustability, failing to meet the diverse ergonomic needs of all gamers.

Material Matters: Comfort Meets Durability

High-quality materials are key to the TGIF T0’s comfort and durability. The chair uses a highly breathable mesh material, a superior alternative to traditional PU leather, that regulates temperature and humidity, keeping the seat surface dry and comfortable all day long. The mesh minimizes deformation over time, enhancing durability and resilience and ensuring consistent support and comfort for years.

For those seeking extra comfort, the TGIF T0 Max version includes slow rebound memory foam in the headrest and cushion. This space-tech memory foam evenly distributes pressure, reducing strain on pressure points and making sitting more comfortable. The memory foam is also durable, maintaining its shape and support over time.

Moreover, the TGIF T0 Max introduces a signature thermal-relief feature that delivers gentle heat directly to the lumbar region. This targeted heat therapy helps alleviate muscle fatigue, promotes better posture, and improves blood circulation during extended sitting. It’s particularly beneficial for those who experience lower back discomfort, providing soothing warmth that helps relax muscles.

Unlike traditional gaming chairs that often rely on non-breathable PU leather, which can trap heat and moisture, this chair features breathable mesh fabric that keeps you cool and comfortable. It’s also built with durable materials to maintain its integrity over time, preventing sagging and wear commonly seen in less advanced options.

Adding to its durability and quality, the TGIF T0 is backed by the industry’s most rigorous testing standards. The chair has undergone extensive BIFMA and SGS testing, achieving the highest quality certifications. After thousands of test iterations, the TGIF T0 exceeds expectations by delivering exceptional performance and longevity you can trust.

Practical features are built in to enhance the gaming experience. Extensive testing with gamers revealed that many prefer to rest their feet on the chair base while playing, leading to a 58-degree inclined base design. This provides a stable and comfortable footrest, reducing leg fatigue and improving posture.

Advanced Features: Enhancing the Gaming Experience

The TGIF T0 comes packed with features to improve your gaming experience. The chair offers customizable settings, allowing users to adjust it to their needs and preferences. The recline function can be set to various angles, and a tilt mechanism can be locked in place or left to rock freely.

The TGIF T0 Max further elevates the experience with additional features, including the built-in thermal relief system, enhanced lumbar pad developed in collaboration with a professional sports rehabilitation center, and the Wintex mesh fabric that offers superior elasticity, breathability, and durability.

Which TGIF T0 is Right for You?

Choosing the TGIF T0 gaming chair means investing in a well-designed option that augments your gaming sessions. Its ergonomic design, high-quality materials, and practical features meet gamers’ needs.

If features like thermal relief, upgraded lumbar support, and advanced materials are top priorities, the TGIF T0 Max is ideal. For those who want comfort and ergonomic support without extra features, the TGIF T0 is a strong option. Choose the TGIF T0 series to make every gaming session more comfortable. Whether you’re a professional esports gamer or a casual player, this chair is designed to meet your needs.

Click Here to Buy Now: $399 $649 (38% off). Hurry, only 61/100 left! Raised over $200,000.

The post Experience Peak Performance with the TGIF T0 Chair, Designed for Gamers first appeared on Yanko Design.

Grotesque alien creatures will probably be trending again thanks to the revival of a long-running movie franchise, but all extraterrestrial creatures will look horrifying. They might be breathtaking, defying all the preconceived notions of our limited human minds. They might not even be organic, at least as defined by what we know on earth. If we ever encountered an inorganic, metallic alien that didn’t look like any biped or quadruped Earthbound creature, it could probably look like this metal stool with its symmetric tentacles that seemingly invite you to approach and, well, sit on it for your comfort.

Designer: Riley MacKay

Alien references aside, this metal and wood stool definitely doesn’t look like your typical piece of furniture. There are technically still four legs, though they look double that number because of how each leg splits into two. The legs seemingly turn and swirl around the center of the stool, giving the impression of tentacles moving around a metallic creature.

Unlike what you’d see from a jellyfish or octopus, however, there is a strict symmetry to the stool’s geometric design. The legs protrude at a specific angle away from the body and to the side, creating the shape of a spinning star when the stool is viewed from the top. This design provides both visual and mechanical balance, giving the stool stability despite its seemingly thin and flat legs.

There is also a sustainability angle to the Metal Stool, though perhaps a bit indirectly. The legs are made from sheet metal while the seat is birch wood, both of which can be sourced from sustainable or renewable options. The minimalist design could mean that these parts can be taken from factory offcuts as well, providing a new purpose for otherwise discarded and wasted materials.

The Metal Stool is a prime example of a simple and subtle design that manages to look quite stunning just by shifting the formula just a little bit. Whether it reminds you of aliens, jellyfish, or abstract art, the stool has the same effect of catching your attention and adding a unique character to any space. And, of course, you can sit on it as well without fear of toppling over or, worse, being taken by metal tentacles into the depths of a dark void.

The post Alien-like metal stool concept inspires awe rather than fear first appeared on Yanko Design.

You can actually do a lot at home, especially in your backyard! It definitely made us realize we shouldn’t underestimate our backyards, they can be locations of major fun, recreation, and relaxation…depending on how we do them up. You can turn your backyard into an ideal date spot for you and your partner, or host a barbecue party! We’ve curated a collection of furniture designs to help you transform these exciting ideas into a reality. These designs will turn your yard into the ultimate relaxation destination. We bet you won’t want to step out of your yard, once you introduce these furniture pieces to it. These furniture pieces will majorly transform your humble backyard.

1. Hut Lounge Bed

Named the Hut Lounge Bed, this exceptional furniture design for the outdoors was created by Marco Levit for the Italian outdoor furniture company Ethimo. It serves as a cozy and comfy space to relax and unwind in and is an excellent place to lounge about after a long day at work.

Why is it noteworthy?

With the Hut Lounge Bed, you can soak up the sun, and connect peacefully with nature. It has a conical and semi-enclosed space which offers protection while letting you rest and relax.

What we like

• Perfect fit for your backyard during the spring or summer season
• It can handle years of exposure to the elements and weather

What we dislike

• Bulky and space-consuming design, intended for large yards

2. Cosmo Pavilion

Called the Cosmo Pavilion, this furniture design is a revamped version of the classic garden pergola. It is a pretty and quaint pavilion that is designed to frame outdoor furniture settings while also offering protection from the elements. The pavilion brings comfort and coziness to the outdoors.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Cosmo Pavilion is designed for the evenings, and it features integrated LEDs which shine upwards, scattering light across the fabric canopy, and creating a lovely ambiance.

What we like

• Offers protection and creates a lovely ambiance

What we dislike

• Bulky and space-consuming design, not intended for places with space constraints

3. Tool Seat

If you like getting down and dirty, then you need to get your hands on the Gardeners Tool Seat. It provides you with everything you need – a collapsible seat to sit on, gardening tools, and a bonus pocket for carrying a cool drink.

Why is it noteworthy?

Equipped with a standard collapsible tool, the seat is built from stainless steel piping, amped with a nylon fabric seat, as well as a detailed base that holds your gardening toolbag underneath it. It also features a gardening toolkit.

What we like

• Equipped with a space on the inside to accommodate your gardening trimmings

What we dislike

• It really doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long periods

4. Strap Furniture Collection

Called the Strap furniture collection, this outdoor furniture collection draws inspiration from the 1970s poolside furniture. It includes eleven seating designs such as stools, armchairs, benches, loungers, and stackable chair. It brings the lovely 1970s charm to your yard.

Why is it noteworthy?

The metallic chairs are made from aluminum straps, which seem to be quite tightly wound around simple tubular frames. The furniture pieces draw inspiration from the designer’s childhood memories of sun loungers around the local pool.

What we like

• Evokes childhood nostalgia
• They can be used in shopping districts, university campuses, and other urban spaces

What we dislike

• The aesthetics need some work and innovation, as they are a bit dry and boring

5. Bello! Bench

Named the Bello! bench. This outdoor bench was created by aluminum producer Hydro and draws inspiration from the penne rigate pasta. It is a unique-looking bench that makes a lovely addition to your yard, for those warm evenings when you want to get some fresh air.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is a versatile piece of furniture and is influenced by the form, shape, and design of pasta. The bench can be used both indoors and outdoors and is made from ninety percent recycled and one hundred percent recyclable aluminum.

What we like

• Influenced by the penne rigate
• It can be customized to fit lamps, tables, or chargers

What we dislike

• The shape may create a slipping sensation, making it uncomfy to sit on the chair for longer durations

6. Aluminum Week-End Outdoor Furniture

If youre in the mood to spruce up your yard, then you may want to get your hands on the Aluminum Week-End outdoor furniture by Petite Friture. The unique collection includes tables and chairs with slatted aluminum surfaces, and is equipped with a silvery metallic finish.

Why is it noteworthy?

The furniture pieces showcases a raw and stark aesthetic, and it has a grained epoxy paint finish available in a variety of colors, which brings focus to the furniture’s aluminum material in its raw and bare state.

What we like

• Adds a whole dose of personality and amusement to your yard

What we dislike

• Is only exclusively available for contract buyers to buy

7. Stack Stool & Combo Table

Created by Raffaello Galiotto for the Italian furniture brand Nardi, this Stack Stool and Combo Table are an excellent stool and table collection that are equipped with a linear designed complemented by strips of wood.

Why is it noteworthy?

Made from 100 per cent recyclable regenerated polypropylene, the collection is designed to look like traditional timber furniture. The furniture collection is lightweight and sturdy, and they can be easily moved, lifted and handled.

What we like

• The furniture pieces are completely weatherproof

What we dislike

• Aesthetics are simple and unassuming

8. Mondos

The Mondos is a warm and cozy afternoon spent on a Southern Californian beach transformed into comfy and chonky furniture pieces. Designed by two California-based brands Laun and Chet Architecture, the furniture collection includes six pieces.

Why is it noteworthy?

The six pieces are inspired by Mondos Beach in Ventura, California, which is said to be the capital of the state’s surfing culture. The entire collection is designed to be bold yet low-key, inviting, and exclusive.

What we like

• Brings the beach to your backyard
• Inspired by the 1980s pool and garden furniture

What we dislike

• The entire collection is quite bulky, so it is only suitable for backyards with an ample amount of space

9. Gravitas

Called Gravitas, this outdoor furniture looks “grated”. It is sturdy and strong enough to handle the strong winds, rains, and snow. It is designed to be “all-weather all-rounder” pieces of furniture, making them an exceptional fit for a garden, patio, or the backyard.

Why is it noteworthy?

It features a unique galvanized grating design, and is a good fit for cafes and restaurants with an industrial look or theme. It is a great fit for both outdoor and indoor spaces.

What we like

• It makes for an excellent fit for different spaces

What we dislike

• The steel material might be too hot for when the sun is out

10. Mass Table

Alexander Lotersztain designed the Mass Table for Derlot. The table is the reimagined and recreated version of the stereotypical and mundane picnic table!

Why is it noteworthy?

Alexander took the typical picnic table and transformed it into a unique flat-packed table in an almost fluorescent yellow color. Made from a sturdy combination of powder-coated steel and aluminum, the Mass table is ideal for both indoors and outdoors.

What we like

• Inspired by the iconic garden table, but a more sturdy and contemporary version

What we dislike

• The table can be used indoors, but we don’t think it would be a suitable fit

The post 10 Best Outdoor Furniture Designed To Make Your Yard Comfy, Fun & Functional first appeared on Yanko Design.

In the world of sustainable design, creative minds constantly push the envelope to discover innovative ways of crafting eco-friendly furniture. The 4-AL stool, designed by Vienna-based Paul Matteo Wesser, stands as a testament to this quest for sustainability. This project not only champions eco-friendly practices but also redefines how we perceive repurposed materials.

Designer: Paul Matteo Wesser

Wesser’s 4-AL stool exemplifies how sustainable furniture can be crafted from repurposed elements. While some designers experiment with unconventional materials like mushroom mycelium or recycled paper, Wesser looked to more readily accessible sources. He turned to online home improvement stores, viewing them as treasure troves of potential. By repurposing metal balcony cladding elements, he transformed them into the stool’s main structure. The aluminum profiles chosen for the frame highlight a commitment to durability, stability, and weather resistance, ensuring the stool’s longevity.

The stool’s design takes inspiration from coastal architecture. Rectangular aluminum panels form a symmetrical base, while a cross-shaped frame supports the seat. Crafted from cane, the seat features a finely woven pattern, adding a warm accent and beautiful texture to the silver-gray aluminum. This combination of materials not only provides visual appeal but also highlights the potential of repurposed elements in modern design.

One of the standout features of the 4-AL stool is its modular design. Both the frame and the cane seat can be easily detached from one another. This thoughtful design enhances the product’s environmental credentials by simplifying recycling and repairs. It ensures that the stool can have a long life, with parts that are easy to replace or recycle.

Wesser’s choice of materials and components from home improvement retailers means that the stool is both accessible and affordable. By utilizing existing parts, he minimized waste and streamlined the manufacturing process. This approach not only reduces the carbon footprint but also makes sustainable furniture more attainable.

4-AL adapts effortlessly to different needs, serving either as extra seating or as a side table. Its modern silhouette and thoughtful material combination make it a versatile addition to any contemporary home.

The 4-AL stool, though currently a prototype, offers an inspiring blueprint for eco-friendly furniture, reducing environmental impact while making a bold statement in home decor. Paul Matteo Wesser’s innovative approach showcases how sustainability and creativity can intersect, providing a path forward for the future of furniture design. This stool is a shining example of how repurposed materials can be transformed into stylish, functional, and sustainable furniture. Its modular design, inspired aesthetic, and practical functionality make it a promising solution for eco-conscious consumers and designers alike.

The post 4-AL Stool by Paul Matteo Wesser Redefines Sustainable Furniture with Repurposed Materials first appeared on Yanko Design.

Seating ergonomics are constantly changing as working hours from the desk and individual video gaming sessions grow by the day. From adjustable chairs to those with lumber support and from cushiony backrests to airy ones, the chairs have not just evolved in style, but functionality and construction in a similar breath. To that accord, chairs with saddle-shaped seats are making an uncanny appearance as people who spend longer times in front of their computer screens prefer such stools and chairs above traditional seat types.

This transition is primarily credited to the back pain; which saddle seat configuration helps easily, at least that’s how we have come to believe. I believe back pain is generally because of static sitting; for long hours. It’s the lack of movement more than anyone sitting position that impacts the back. But if you are from the school of thought that believes a seat can make a difference to your backaches, an ergonomic saddle-shape gaming chair, with adjustable features, called the ‘Cross Mantis’ is here to address your woes.

Designer: Fyodor Lazariev and Farukh Imin

The Cross Mantis orthopedic saddle chair is designed for the gaming furniture brand SILIQS. The idea was to design a chair that combines the functionality of an office chair with the comfort and benefits of a saddle seat. Saddle seat, which allows an open hip position offering good leg circulation, erect spine position, and improved balance, is an orthopedically correct fit for the spinal cord, the designers believe.

After various iterations and toiling, the gaming chair – comprising a bent aluminum frame and highly cushioned mesh fabric – is made adjustable and usable with standing tables to do gaming in more positions than just sitting up front. Since the chair is conceived for a brand specializing in e-sports furniture, it is designed in contrasting color combinations with an aggressive shape. The adjustable back support, rotating headrest and armrests, and adjustable height all allow the chair to be more versatile to use.

It would take you closer to your gaming universe so you can reach further, sit up straighter, and have various adjustable positions to lock that perfect position to nail your opponent before the brink of an eye. The Cross Mantis saddle gaming chair is designed in individual modules. It can be shipped in a box and the modules can be assembled on site.

The post Orthopedic saddle chair is designed for gaming without a break and backache first appeared on Yanko Design.

“Working lying down is seldom seen in office environments,” pointed out Timothy Widmer, a student at Lucerne School of Art and Design. Lying down is often associated with relaxing – the antithesis of productivity and professionalism – but if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we don’t need an ‘office chair’ or a ‘cubicle’ to work. You could work from a high-chair, a beanbag, a recliner, a sofa… so why not use that as a starting point to revisit how furniture can look and behave?

Designer: Timothy Widmer

Meet Gustav, a 4-piece modular furniture set that comes together in a variety of ways. Its odd shape strays away from any kind of traditional furniture – it looks nothing like a chair, a stool, a sofa, or a pouffe. Once put together, however, you get to understand the kind of freedom and flexibility it brings, and how it could possibly be used for a variety of activities.

The Gustav is position-agnostic. It allows you to use its shape in whatever way you choose. You can sit on it like a stool, recline backwards with your legs stretched out, or even folded in. The stool’s rear space (behind the recliner) lets you store books, EDC, chargers, cables… and the cuboid-shaped pouffe at the end doubles up as a side-table just in case you want one.

“The multi-components allow different constellations to be created – from an individual workspace to a conversation pit,” says Widmer.

Ultimately, a lot of Gustav’s success depends on the upheaval of corporate work culture. Whether offices embrace relaxed working as a practice isn’t something the Gustav can control – but it does pose a very interesting schematic for coworking spaces, cafes, and even lounges at airports. And it asks a rather fundamental question too – if productivity is a state of mind, why does the way you’re seated matter SO much?

The post Unique Modular Furniture Piece lets you work, lounge, read, and relax thanks to its plug-and-play form first appeared on Yanko Design.

Furry friends are full of fun, at least until it’s time to actually keep them healthy and well-maintained. Both dogs and cats have a never-ending fur problem, but felines are more notorious for not being as enthusiastic about being brushed and combed, unlike their canine counterparts. That said, cats are also sticklers for cleanliness, but all their licking unfortunately results in unsightly hairballs in the end. This rather ingenious contraption offers a solution that makes that brushing feel almost natural to the cat, and it does so by taking advantage of the most cat-like behavior of all: squeezing into very tight spaces.

Designer: Paw-Swing

At first glance, the Paw-Swing Purrring (yes, that’s how it’s spelled) Cat Self-Grooming House looks nothing more than a felt-covered box with a rather small circular opening in front. This combination is, of course, irresistible to cats who’ll want to explore and try to fit into that tight space, which is exactly why it’s designed this way. And as soon as it passes through that hole, its loose fur gets brushed away in a manner that makes the cat feel like it’s being licked by its mother instead.

The secret is the six cylindrical brushes around the circular entrance of the house, each with a surface designed to mimic the papillae on a cat’s tongue. To the cat, this feels like a more natural grooming method, which is normally employed by mother cats licking their young. Of course, the fur isn’t ingested and is simply stored in a separate compartment for easy cleaning later. This process happens each and every time the cat passes through the entrance, making manual grooming a thing of the past.

While the self-grooming cat house requires no electricity or motors to implement the grooming part, it does have a tech component to its design. There is an automated treat dispenser installed at the top to entice your cats to come closer to the box, and when it does go in, it records how many times the cat comes in and leaves. This data is made available to owners to help them monitor the habits and health of their feline family.

Beyond the grooming and the feeding, the Purrring cat house is also, well, a house for cats. Its felt material makes the box comfortable and safe for cats, not to mention environment-friendly and recyclable as well. The Self-Grooming Cat House thus offers a safe haven for cats that also take a load off their humans’ minds, at least until it’s time to take out the collected fur.

The post Self-grooming cat house combs away loose fur each time they pass through first appeared on Yanko Design.

Open shelves and storage solutions not only tidy up your possessions but also incorporate them into your home’s decorative scheme. Open shelves come in various styles and configurations, each offering unique advantages and aesthetic appeal. Here are ten different types of open shelves to choose from.

Designer: João Teixeira

1. Floating Shelves

Image courtesy of: 9_fingers_

These are the most common types of open shelves that are mounted directly onto the wall to impart a floating effect as the brackets are concealed. It is best suited for modern homes and is perfect for displaying decorative items, storage containers, or toys in children’s bedrooms.

2. Wall-Mounted Shelves

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As the name suggests, these shelves are mounted on the wall supported by visible brackets and are available in multiple materials and designs.

Designer: Evan Clabots for Cozey

The Altitude Shelf, designed by Evan Clabots for Cozey, draws inspiration from Japanese and Danish woodworking traditions, boasting clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. Easy to assemble with included hardware and a placement guide, this versatile shelf seamlessly integrates into any room, offering both functionality and style.

Designer: Markus Hofko of Von Morgen

KUR!O’s innovative shelving unit offers customizable storage solutions with its grid base and interlocking shelving plates. It has evolved into a consumer-ready product featuring durable construction and additional features like dowels for hanging items. The base grid, made from wood-fiber boards, supports powder-coated steel panels, available in various colors for structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. With a modular design and playful color scheme, KUR!O adds contemporary flair to any space.

3. Cube Shelves

Available as rectangular or square-shaped shelves, these units can be used for storage and display. They can be used as individual units or can be combined to create an interesting display.

Designers: Calvin Middel & Bencekommt

Every foyer needs a storage solution for keys, jackets, and daily essentials. Student designers Calvin and Bence crafted Bügal designed a fusion piece blending a coat rack with a shelf system. Utilizing 3D printing, they molded Bügal’s body, achieving a sleek, semi-matte silicone finish. Bügal hangs securely from a wooden peg, accommodating multiple garments and bulky items like cameras or plants. Its deep pocket provides space for keys and phones, offering practical storage without sacrificing style.

Designer: Jean Couvreur for Kabata

The Fréquence shelf by Jean Couvreur, designed for Kabata, offers a versatile storage solution for compact living spaces. It features minimalist aesthetics with clean lines and a sleek white finish. This modular shelving system allows for various configurations, serving as a bookcase, base unit, or room divider. Its geometrically shaped modules, crafted from durable aluminum, enable creative arrangements while minimizing material wastage during manufacturing. With its sturdy construction and modern design, Fréquence adds functionality and elegance to any home environment.

Designer: Deniz Aktay

Deniz Aktay’s ‘Overlap’ table is a versatile and functional piece of furniture designed for modern living spaces. It features two rotated wooden boxes ingeniously joined to create a sturdy tabletop and storage unit. This compact yet stylish design prioritizes both form and function, offering ample storage while occupying minimal space. Its geometrically intriguing form adds a touch of sophistication to any room, making it a perfect fit for small corners or as a centerpiece in a living room.

4. Corner Shelves

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Make optimum use of the corners and maximize storage with corner shelves. These shelves are available in triangular and curved designs and are ideal for enhancing the utility of vacant corners.

5. Ladder Shelves

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These shelves resemble a ladder, lean against the wall, and are perfect for displaying books, plants, and decorative accents. Note that these shelves are wide at the base and narrow at the top.

6. Pipe Shelves

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If you love the modern, rustic, or industrial look then go use metal pipes as the support brackets for holding wooden or glass shelves. These are perfect for a modern or rustic décor.

7. Cubby Shelves

These are open compartments of various sizes that provide flexible storage solutions and are very popular in offices and children’s bedrooms. These are perfect for storing books, baskets, and decorative objects.

Designer: Freia Achenbach

A shelf named “Spectator” captivates with interlocking puzzle piece design, subtly resembling distorted human faces. Hand-painted resin pieces create a glossy finish reminiscent of ivory and bone. While minimalist, it challenges observer roles, blurring lines between viewer and viewed. Despite its unconventional appearance, it seamlessly interlocks, symbolizing the mental space objects occupy. Though not the most functional, it offers a unique perspective, prompting contemplation on perception and cognition in a compact, artistic package.

Designer: Narbutas

In major cities, space scarcity persists, particularly for independent millennials transitioning to their own homes. Office environments face similar challenges, necessitating efficient storage solutions. Narbutas’ Combus Shelving System addresses this need, offering versatile storage and space partitioning with customizable shelving types and heights. Its innovative configurations facilitate dynamic office layouts, while optional accessories enhance functionality. Made from recycled materials, it promotes sustainability and can be easily disassembled for reuse.

8. Wire Shelves

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These shelves provide a lightweight appearance and are highly recommended for use in the kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom to store kitchen essentials and bathroom items.

9. Console Units

Some console units come with open shelves and are primarily used for storing books. These not only look neat but are versatile pieces of furniture that can be used in the entryway, living room, or bedroom.

Designer: Carlos Platz

The Svolta shelving system epitomizes simplicity, with ingenious joinery inspired by alpine architecture. Using precise cutouts, it assembles effortlessly, relying solely on the shelves and legs themselves. Named after the Italian word for “rotation,” Svolta utilizes wooden pieces with fitted cutouts, allowing swift assembly. Crafted from sustainable European oak, it offers an elegant, scalable solution with minimal environmental impact.

10. Decorative Shelving

Some shelving units resemble a piece of wall art and can play a role in enhancing storage with creative shelving configurations of various colors, shapes, materials, and more.

Designer: Kengo Kuma for More Trees

Marumarushikaku is a modular wooden shelf with assorted stacked shapes. Its unconventional design serves as both functional storage and captivating artwork. Comprising rectangular and round boards, it enables personalized arrangements. Despite its delicate appearance, it securely accommodates items like books and plants. Crafted from locally sourced wood, it adds a minimalist touch with rotating plates and is ideal for enhancing any office or living space.

Designer: Lisa Brustolin

The new collection of everyday furniture challenges the prevailing minimalism trend in design by offering vibrant and visually intriguing pieces. Each item combines colors, materials, and shapes to create highlights in any room. For example, the Differ Shelf features translucent epoxy resin legs and opaque shelves, creating a captivating interplay of light. The Opticabinet, crafted by Venetian artisans, creates an optical illusion with alternating patterns of blue and green. Lastly, the Wrong Mirror offers a modern twist on a classic design, prompting reflection with its unconventional form and materials.

Designer: George Bosnas

Drawing inspiration from the beloved 1980s toy, the Rubika bookcase seamlessly merges modern aesthetics with nostalgic charm. While resembling a three-dimensional cube from a distance, upon closer inspection, it reveals the dimensions of a traditional bookcase. This captivating illusion is achieved through a clever arrangement of cubby shapes and a blend of assorted woods, resulting in a visually dynamic and intriguing piece.

Each type of open-shelf design comes with different advantages, and aesthetics, and can be integrated with the decor of different rooms. However, choose the best one according to your individual preferences and space.

The post Top 10 Styles of Open Shelving for Maximizing Storage first appeared on Yanko Design.

Furniture can be made from any material, with the only requirement that it should be strong enough to serve its purpose. Wood is the most common choice and one that’s beloved by designers, but there are also a number that are made of metal or even glass. There is also furniture made from plastic, though these bear the stigma of not only being cheap in terms of cost but also in quality and durability. Of course, not all plastic is made equal, and some perform better than others. And depending on how you actually use the material, they can look as plain or as luxurious as you can make them. This furniture collection, for example, looks like it has been carefully carved out of blocks of ice, but if you’ve been following the flow so far, then you’d probably guess they’re made from plastic and handcrafted plastic at that.

Designer: Kasper Kyster

Despite the harm they pose to the environment, plastic is still a common sight in many products. They’re cheap to make and easy to work with, which is why they’re used in mass-production pipelines. You’d almost be crazy to manually form the plastic by yourself, but it’s that inspired insanity that brought these beautiful masterpieces to life.

The project, called “Crafting Plastic,” is meant to challenge the way the material is perceived or even utilized. Rather than going through a machine or even a 3D printer, sheets of PETG plastic are cut into small sizes, heated with a heat gun, and then bent and shaped by hand. The pieces are turned into tubes that can be flattened, folded, and bent to create the classic forms of furniture. It’s definitely a painstaking method that won’t scale well, but it definitely serves its purpose, proving that plastic is not as simple as we presume it to be.

The result is a unique aesthetic that, on the one hand, looks like transparent glass but, on the other hand, also resembles sculpted ice with its imperfections and rough surfaces. It has an element of delicateness that almost makes you hesitant to even touch it, let alone put some weight on the pieces to actually use them for the furniture that they are. Fortunately, the lamps in the collection are fully functional without requiring interaction, though they may have also been the most difficult to make. The folds of the plastic pipes have to be done in a certain way and direction to make sure that light actually passes through.

It’s probably for the best that these pieces of furniture are more artistic and not easily replicated because, after all, they are made from plastic. There is some amount of recycled plastic but it’s kept at a low percentage in order to retain the material’s structural rigidity and stability. Hopefully, the eye-catching and thought-provoking design will inspire more experimentation on the use of plastic in furniture that will take into account not only functionality and beauty but also sustainability.

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Glass isn’t often used for tables and even when it is, it’s usually only limited to the tabletop part. Glass is strong yet also brittle, so you would rarely want to have it in something that meets a lot of accidents in daily use. At the same time, however, glass also has an exquisite quality to its appearance that has even made it the favored material for counterfeit jewelry. There’s a certain artistry in glassware, especially when their production involves more traditional methods like glass blowing, embracing imperfections and flaws as unique traits that give the design a personality of its own. These side tables, simple as their shapes may be, are fine examples of how skilled craftsmanship can turn glass into something so beautiful that they might be good enough to eat.

Designer: Sabine Marcelis

Although they are completely functional, side tables often act more as decorative pieces, making them the perfect subject for design experimentation and thinking outside the box. There’s never a scarcity of concepts that explore different forms and functions for side tables, from transforming furniture to tables that serve both humans and pets at the same time. There are also plenty of more artistic renditions of what a side table is, like this collection that looks like tempting gigantic hard candy.

Coming in a variety of sizes, these square and rectangular glass boxes create a playful display of light and color through their translucent materials and even through the imperfections inside that material. The smoky gray and amber hues make the glass look less like jewelry and more like sweet treats that are too big to put in your mouth. Despite what would normally be boring shapes, the Lokum side tables have a certain aura of fun owing to the design’s charming character.

The simple boxy shapes of the side tables would normally be perfect for using mass-produced techniques, but these are instead blown glass into their geometric forms as evidenced by the traces of ripples in the glass. What would normally be seen as flaws actually enhance the glass tables’ playful image, adding a touch of dynamism to a rather static form. It also affects the way light passes through and bounces off, creating shadows and patterns that draw your attention further.

Elegant, entertaining, and ephemeral all at the same time, these blown glass side tables definitely do more than just provide a temporary place for books or cups. They turn imperfections into beautiful impressions, transform plain shapes into mouth-watering forms, and give life to any space through their simple yet eye-catching design. All these, using a technique that’s been around for centuries and a material that is as common as the sand.

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