Tag Archives: couch

AI helps IKEA design a modular couch that can be transported in a big envelope

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Ordinary people don’t really think about thinking of new ways to innovate pieces of furniture like tables, chairs, beds, and couches. Most people probably just think of buying something that is practical, comfortable, and does what it’s supposed to do. But product designers are always out there thinking of new ways to make things like these more portable, more interesting, or basically, just better. The addition of generative artificial intelligence into the equation has helped them come up with out-of-the-box concepts that later on get turned to prototypes.

Designer: Space10 and Panter&Tourron

If you’ve ever thought the day would never come when you can pack a couch into an envelope (a big one though), then you are apparently almost wrong. With the help of AI, a Copenhagen-based design company was able to come up with a speculative design for a modular couch that can be packed into a bag and transported easily. The flat-packed furniture was soon turned into a prototype that is on display at the Copenhagen Architecture Festival. Although it will probably be some time before we actually see this available, it still brings up interesting possibilities.

When they found out the right keywords and iterations to help the image generative AI tools like MidJourney and DALL-E, they were able to start on a design for the ideal flat-pack couch. The final design output showed a bench type of couch that can fit in two people comfortably and includes adjustable wings and cushions. When you need to move or transport it, it can be flat packed and put into a tote bag that’s shaped like an envelope so no need to hire movers and be stressed with moving that couch.

They went beyond just having a design and created a prototype since AI cannot determine whether something will actually be usable, let alone comfortable. While we probably won’t be seeing this in the market anytime soon, it can start a discussion on how they can come up with products that are able to solve the pain points of the current ones in the market. Of course there is still a lot of discussion going on about AI but using it as a tool is something that designers can really explore.

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This striking couch makes a powerful statement on face masks

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There was a point in very recent history when it seemed that the world had run out of single-use face masks, sometimes referred to as surgical masks. Eventually, however, supply did finally catch up to demand, and the use of such protective gear became so common that people would acquire them in bulk. Unfortunately, these masks weren’t made exactly made with regular people in mind and in situations where they would not be disposed of properly. What was a tool that helped save human lives, unfortunately, became poison to the planet, especially our already polluted waters. Although restrictions have been lifted in many places, these single-use masks are still in high demand and use, including outside the medical field, and the harm that these discarded masks pose to the environment has been demonstrated with dramatic effect in a pouf made almost completely out of this personal protective equipment.

Designer: Tobia Zambotti

Surgical masks look simple enough that most probably take for granted the materials used to make them. Most probably presume that they’re made from biodegradable material since they feel like cloth or paper, but that’s not exactly true. They are made from a certain kind of plastic, and they can’t be recycled because of their use in medical scenarios. Thus, they become dangerous pollutants, whether they’re burned by incinerators or thrown into the waters.

Given the volume of single-use masks produced and discarded on a regular basis, that can easily cause an environmental problem. What makes the situation worse is that very few people are aware of this situation, let alone of the harmful potential of these masks. What better way to call their attention, then, than by putting this number into perspective in a rather shocking manner?

That is what COUCH-19 does in a way that is both meaningful but also useful. Hundreds of used masks are collected and then sanitized using ozone before they’re entombed in a pouf made from recyclable crystal PVC. Each pouf is modular so that it can be combined with others to form a couch to one’s specifications. The poufs are shaped irregularly to give the semblance of the masks frozen in time. The iceberg-like design is intended to be a reference to global warming.

As a couch, the COUCH-19 looks both interesting but also a bit unsettling, which is part of the message. While there’s no doubt that it can function as a piece of furniture, its appearance is alien enough to give our brains pause, forcing us to face the reality that those masks convey, that of a world where we might be forced to live with the very trash that we so mindlessly throw away.

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Suspended Sofa makes you feel like you’re precariously sitting on cloud nine

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Couches and sofas are primarily designed to provide comfortable sitting for a group of people or even lounging and sleeping for just one person. Over time, however, they have also developed a new purpose, considering the amount of space they occupy in an area. Their size automatically makes them the first visual point for anyone entering an area, making them the perfect way to make a good first impression on visitors. Sofas have, in a way, also become decorative pieces of furniture, an expression of an owner’s style, or simply an instrument to create a visual impact. This sofa definitely makes a lasting impression, though people might be wondering whether they should be dreamy or wary of sinking into its cloud-inspired embrace.

Designer: Mark Mitchell

We’ve seen our fair share of memorable sofa designs that range from the elegant to the eccentric. Some take their inspiration from various art movements throughout the decades, while others bring mundane objects to the living room. There’s even one that’s designed to look like scrumptious bread rolls that are good enough to nibble on. It’s a delightfully wacky way to be a couch potato, but one that might be inviting trouble when toddlers mistake it for the real thing.

And then there are the artistic interpretations of those everyday objects, like crumpled paper or fluffy clouds. The Suspended Sofa is like a little bit of both, but it also provokes the mind to make a suspension of belief that you won’t fall down on this cozy seat.

The sofa clearly takes after the soft, white clouds hanging above our heads that we often take for granted every day. Unlike other cloud-inspired sofas, this one tries to faithfully recreate the uneven forms of clouds. Real clouds aren’t uniform and smooth, and neither is the surface of the Suspended Sofa. There is even an uneven piece of crumpled fabric hanging over one side down to its base, covering the lone leg of the couch. The base is covered with a white carpet reminiscent of feathery cirrus clouds intermingling with cottony cumulus.

What makes the Suspended Sofa really striking, however, is how it looks like it actually floats above the ground. Of course, it’s all just an illusion because it has a leg that supports lifts the seat; it just happens to be draped with a white fabric that makes it look like it’s part of the cloud. That’s just on one side, though, which makes you wonder how it manages to stay stable, especially when you have people sitting on it.

The Suspended Sofa makes a splendid accent in any space, especially in rooms with bright lights or themes that will make you feel like you’re lounging in the heavens. Its design is meant to evoke feelings of peace and calm, isolated from the stresses of life that weigh us down. Ironically, it might also induce emotions of fear and uncertainty of “falling through the clouds” with what looks like a precarious structure for a seat made to hold many people all at once.

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Modular couch brings comfort, calm to waiting spaces

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Modular furniture is pretty important for people who would like to add a bit of personalization to their area. It lets you choose the different kinds of designs that you’d like to have for your waiting area, living room, or public space without necessarily having to build something yourself or from scratch. Having something that can fit your needs or wants, even if it’s just furniture, is useful in creating the perfect space whether it’s for personal use or for business use.

Designer: Sander Mulder

The Hunebed is on such modular solution that can be perfect for public waiting areas like airpots, hospitals, hotels, offices, or even your own home if you have a lot of space and you do a lot of entertaining. It is a couch where the elements can be stacked and rotated according to your need and preference. The fixtures are actually “stones” that you can combine and assemble in various designs that are both aesthetic and functional.

These elements are made from “warm” wood and use a foam frame as well as steel connections. They are minimalist in design individually but when put together, they can add a bit of character to your space. There are different colors available as per their release but the renders show different shades of gray and white only. You can add the stones to pivot points and since these are rotating, you can get 360-degree freedom of motion. You can use them as armrests, back rests, or even privacy screens.

If you want the couch to be even more functional, you can also add electrification solutions like a USB charging point or a main power socket. The horizontal stones can also be used as planters so you can add a bit of green to the space, which is always calming to the eyes and to the soul. So for those using the couch as a waiting area, the Hunebed will not be uncomfortable or anxiety-inducing but rather a place to relax and even recharge (sometimes, literally).

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Dedas sofas bring a touch of Hungarian Bauhaus to public spaces

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When people think of sofas or couches, many might think of very comfortable seating furniture you might even be able to sleep on. Others might actually find them stiff and unappealing, especially public ones that seem to be ironically designed to discourage lounging on them. And then there are sofas that seem to be more like art pieces to look at than something to sit on. Of course, there’s no reason why a sofa can’t be both an artistic expression as well as a piece of comfortable furniture, and the Dedas seating system brings that possibility into the real world, with a lot of help from the Hungarian designers and artists that represented the culture in the Bauhaus movement.

Designer: Annabella Hevesi

The seating system is made up of one, two, and three-seater sofas of different designs and colors, but its flagship variant reflects the art style that serves as both the inspiration and impetus for the entire furniture collection. Taking a few pages from Hungarian artist Ferenc Lantos’ “circle in square” motif, Dedas employs the typical geometric patterns and alternating colors associated with the Bauhaus style to create a visually interesting piece of furniture. But more than just simply taking those same shapes and putting them on the sofa’s backrest, the design takes a softer approach by using only horizontal and vertical lines to bisect the circles and employs rounded corners for the squares.

In contrast to the almost playful and artistic design of the backrest, there is a sense of efficiency and constraint in the way the entire sofa is constructed. The square shapes clearly mark areas where one should sit, and the rather tall sides enclose people in a more intimate and private space, even in a public setting. For extra effect, there is a three-seater model that has even taller backrests that would seem to climb up the wall, presuming you have the sofa set against one.

A very interesting aspect of the Dedas sofas is the upholstery’s hexagonal weaving structure. Since it has no stated direction, the fabric easily stretches even over the curved parts of the backrest, leaving no excess material and creating a seamless surface. The fabric is made using “Cradle to Cradle” CLIMATEX material, making it 100% recyclable when the sofa reaches its end of life. The foam for the filling is said to be made almost entirely of recycled foam, and its cut foam structure means there is no need for expensive and wasteful casting.

Compared to the cushions, the legs are almost invisible but are still distinctive with their iridescent finishing and unique patination. This appearance is achieved through a burning process that would call to mind enameled artworks, especially those from Hungarian Bauhaus artists. This design happens to also be more environment-friendly compared to plastic-based powder coating methods.

Furniture doesn’t have to be functional pieces of equipment only. They can also be an expression and a reflection of one’s unique traits. That includes one’s culture and history, which is often a smorgasbord of the artistic, socio-political, and economic landscapes of times gone by. Dedas and the designer’s entire Burnt Collection attempts to bring those influences to light, especially from Hungary’s rich cultural past. The result is a beautiful set of sofas for public spaces that bring some bodily relief and visual and mental satisfaction.

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This crib can become a couch when your kid is all grown up

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Your child won’t stay a baby forever (though some might actually wish they did), so this modular furniture concept turns that sleeping place into a seating space when the time finally comes.

Parents sometimes tend to go overboard in buying things for their newborns, which is pretty understandable given how emotions can run high over our little ones. They don’t remain little forever, of course, and there will come a time when they will outgrow everything that you have bought for them. Clothes are one thing, but physical objects like toys, baby gadgets, and cribs are harder to get rid of without feeling a tad guilty. As adults, we also have a responsibility to make sure the world remains habitable for our children and our children’s children, and being able to reuse that crib helps drive that home, no pun intended.

Designer: Vedran Erceg

Baby cribs are designed with the comfort and the safety of a baby or toddler in mind. Everything else is secondary, but that doesn’t exactly mean that nothing else can be done to give the piece of furniture a fresh spin, especially one that will extend its use long after the baby has grown up. That, of course, requires that every part of the crib is reusable, which is the proposition that the Evolvie concept is trying to make.

Just like what its name tries to convey, the crib grows with its owner to some extent. That’s because Evolvie can be taken apart, and each of its different parts can be used for a slightly different purpose. At its most basic, the crib has a flat platform for the bed, a thick mattress on top of it, and two L-shaped pieces with bars that form the walls of the crib.

When you need a slightly larger bed, however, you can use a longer platform and mattress. The sides no longer meet at the edges, so you’ll need two wooden panels to connect them, one of which can be used as a door. Spread the base further, and you have the makings of a comfortable but admittedly odd-looking sofa.

What’s impressive about the concept is that there are other configurations possible that go beyond sleeping or sitting. The sides can be turned to become the legs of the table, with the wooden doors serving as a panel for sticky notes or a wall to lean your kid’s stationery on. It can even become a teen-sized bed, presuming you’re comfortable sleeping on something that narrow.

The concept leaves the door open for the materials to be used, but wood definitely plays a big role. It’s most likely that even the bars will be made of wood but probably coated with something safe for kids. There is also plenty of room for color combinations that will keep a child’s eye occupied for years to come. The flexibility and multi-purpose design of this crib are what make Evolvie really stand out, showing that even the most special-purpose products can become so much more with enough imagination and creative design thinking.

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The LOAFA: A Sofa That Looks Like It’s Made Out of Bread

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Clearly designed with deliciousness in mind, the LOAFA is the brainchild of rapper TOMM¥ €A$H in collaboration with artist Gab Bois and, allegedly, IKEA. Tommy recently took to Instagram to claim that IKEA told him if his post reached 10,000 comments, they’d make a limited run of the LOAFA. The post blew through that goal, so will we actually see the LOAFA reach production? Well, I didn’t just buy 80 pounds of butter and the world’s largest toaster, hoping it doesn’t.

I assume the production model would be constructed of cushions printed with a realistic bread finish. Or, who knows, maybe they’ll make them out of actual bread. I mean, who doesn’t want a rat problem? Still, I think we can agree it would make the perfect sofa for loafing around on a lazy weekend afternoon. It would also make the perfect sofa for trying to eat when you want a snack but don’t feel like getting up. We’ve all been there. Shoot, I live there.

But does it smell like bread? And where’s the deli meat ottoman and cheese wedge coffee table? Because if we’re going in with a bread sofa, I want to go ALL IN with a complete sandwich-themed living room set. Fingers crossed, they start giving them away as prizes on The Price Is Right!

[via Hypebeast]

This minimal hanging wall art actually transforms into a modular sofa unit fit for every living room!

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The Summit Sofa is a dual-purpose, modular furniture design that blends a changeable, functional couch together with a minimalist piece of artwork.

Like every worthwhile lifestyle change, downsizing to meet the demands of tiny living comes with its own set of challenges. The secret to making the most of tiny spaces comes down to finding the right furniture. Following the surge in popularity of tiny living, designers have come out with versatile and modular furniture products to make tiny living feel spacious without taking up too much space. The Summit Sofa from Mousarris, a Cyprus-based interior design company, redefines what versatile and modular furniture can look like, merging artwork and functional furniture into a single design.

Dual-purposed by design, the Summit Sofa is made up of curved cushions with integrated magnets that allow them to attach to one another to form different sofa configurations and the sofa’s main magnetic board to create a minimalist piece of wall artwork. When propped up on its magnetic base, the Summit Sofa’s sinuous cushion modules fit into one another like pieces to a puzzle. When users would like to create their own sofa, they can remove the cushions from the magnetic base and attach modules together to create countless configurations. When the modules are attached to the base, the user’s living and floor areas remain clear for plenty of space. Then, on movie nights or when guests arrive, the Summit Sofa can be detached from the magnetic base to become a sofa.

Sometimes the most practical furniture isn’t the most beautiful. Tiny living shouldn’t mean compromising your taste in interior design for functionality. With Mousarris’s Summit Sofa, you won’t have to sacrifice aesthetics just to save space. When displayed on the magnetic board, the Summit Sofa creates a minimalist display of artwork to tie any room together. Then, when used as furniture, the Summit Sofa can be configured in any arrangement to fit your room and taste.

Designer: Mousarris

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LEGO inspired modular couch lets you build and modify your own design to suit your living space!

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If anyone understands transformative furniture the best, it’s the guys at Transformer Table Inc. Based out of Montreal, the Transformer Table holds records for being Canada’s most funded Kickstarter project of all time as well as the world’s most funded furniture Kickstarter of all time, and I’ll be honest, those distinctions are well deserved. Their journey began in 2016 when they debuted the world’s first table that could expand 10x in length, seating anywhere from 1-2 people in its fully closed mode, to up to 12 people when completely opened out. The project was a runaway success and was even adapted into an expanding bench to go with the table. The guys at Transformer Table Inc. are now bringing their expandable, modular, creative approach to another notoriously rigid item of furniture… the couch.

The Transformer Couch takes a Lego/Minecraft approach to furniture. Everything is centered around a ‘couch block’ which can be extended width-wise to create a couch that seats more people, or length-wise to let you completely stretch your legs out. The couch can be split into two, going from one long unit to two smaller ones, or even multiple single-seater sofas and ottomans, or just about any arrangement you’d like. You don’t really buy the Transformer Couch as it is, you buy modular arrangements and arrange them as you see fit, adding armrests or backrests when you want, and removing them when you don’t. It’s like IKEA, except with MUCH more creative freedom.

This modular approach helps the Transformer Couch solve multiple problems that people usually have with their regular couches. Its flexibility means you aren’t stuck with that one couch all your life, you’re provided with infinite possibilities. Need an L-shaped couch for the corner? Just move the modules around. Want a long couch for when friends come over to watch the game? Just switch them back. Every aspect of the Transformer Couch is removable and adjustable, from its cushions to its armrests and even the backrest. They pop right onto the base and fix themselves in place, creating something that’s sturdy too. Multiple modules lock into place using intermediary connecting clamps too, giving you rigidity when you need it, and flexibility when you want it.

Apart from tackling size constraints, the Transformer Couch is designed to be an overall hassle-free experience, from assembly to comfort, maintenance, and disassembly. Setting up your couch is a one-person job – the entire module fits right into a single box and you can easily put individual sections together in under 5 minutes without requiring any tools or complicated handbooks. Maintenance is a breeze too, as individual couch covers can easily be removed when you need to wash them or if you need to change colors. Since they’re all singular blocks, you can mix and match colors too, creating a quirky palette of hues to suit your space… or your laundry cycle! Each couch module comprises a hardwood base with sinuous steel springs and Italian webbing. Upon it sit the cushions, made with high-density foam for comfort and ‘springability’, and the armrests and backrest, which come with the same foam cushioning with an underlying brushed-steel framework. Covers for the couch are available in fabric, velvet, and PU-leather options, and you can just order more covers whenever you want, refreshing your couch’s visual appeal. Need a place to store all those covers? Well, the area beneath the seat is hollow, so you can store pretty much anything inside it, from extra cushions to covers or even shoes and seasonal clothing (or use it to hide cash… it’ll add a new meaning to ‘finding money by digging into your couch’!)

The Transformer Couch’s modular approach also gives it one more major edge over traditional or even IKEA furniture. Designed to be flexible, the couch can easily be disassembled and moved around too. Whether it’s within your house from room to room, or intra-city, or even across cities and states, packing up the Transformer Couch is just as easy as unpacking it is. The entire module fits right into a single box, and you can carry/transport one module at a time without requiring handymen to lift the couches for you, or asking your friends to “PIVOT!!” if you know what I mean! The Transformer Couch comes with a lifetime warranty, free international shipping, and obviously, infinite design possibilities!

Designer: Transformer Table

Click Here to Buy Now: $1240 $2480 (50% off & Free Shipping). Hurry, less than 48 hours left! Raised over $1,100,000.

Transformer Couch – One Couch, Endless Possibilities

The Transformer Couch is the most multifunctional and modular couch ever. Make it an accent chair, a sofa, a sectional, a bed, a lounger or even a playground for the kids.

Transformer Couches can adapt to any and all spaces no matter where and how you live. The only limit is your imagination.

How to Assemble the Couch

Unbox It

Assemble It

Connect It

Enjoy It

Transformation Possibilities

Features & Benefits

Rearangable – Rearrange your space in seconds.

Forever Changeable – Change the cover colors for a new look.

Washable – Every cover and material is completely washable.

5 Min Assembly – Assemble the Transformer Couch in 5 minutes.

Tech & Spec

Seat Frame: Hardwood with sinuous steel springs and Italian webbing.

Armrests and Backrests are built from heavy duty brushed steel rods, providing strength and durability.

Seat Cushions: Seating cushions are made with three 2.2 high-density foam layers.

Back Cushions: Back cushions and armrests features premium quality spun fibers and Dacron fillings which are blown, baffled and bagged.

Click Here to Buy Now: $1240 $2480 (50% off & Free Shipping). Hurry, less than 48 hours left! Raised over $1,100,000.

Magnus, A Modular, Magnetic Children’s Sofa for Making Furniture Forts

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Remember making pillow forts as a kid? Those were the days, weren’t they? The only thing missing? Magnus, the magnetic play couch. It can be assembled as a children’s sofa or disassembled and built into various fort configurations using its integrated magnet system. Don’t worry. I already emailed demanding an adult-size version.

Each cushion has dozens of magnets inside for connecting to other pieces, and the covers are all removable and machine washable in case somebody pees on them. Ahem, Ellie! Ellie’s my dog, just so we’re clear. Currently a Kickstarter project, the 14-piece Magnus set costs $199 but will increase to $320 after all the early-bird rewards have been fulfilled.

Looks fun, doesn’t it? I just wish there were even more pieces for more building possibilities. Because if we’re being honest, I still make the occasional pillow and blanket fort as an adult, and I don’t even have kids. I do have a bunch of people at IKEA pointing and staring at me, though.

[via DudeIWantThat]