Tag Archives: Rocking Chair

Chrome Spheres Are Now Furniture, and It’s Surprisingly Beautiful

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The easiest way to describe the Wishes Collection is to say it looks like someone took a string of chrome Christmas ornaments and turned them into furniture. But that description undersells it considerably.

Designed by Reza Raeisifar in collaboration with Saber Abar, the Wishes Collection is a limited-edition furniture and lighting series built around a single, almost stubborn idea: take one spherical module, connect it to another, and keep going until you have a chair. Or a rocking chair. Or a bench, a table, a lamp, or a pet house. The collection includes all of these, and the remarkable thing is that they all feel like they genuinely belong together, not as a marketing decision, but as a structural one. Literally, visually, and materially.

Designers: Reza Raeisifar, Saber Abar

The concept draws from how nature builds complexity. Think coral reefs, honeycomb, bone structure. Raeisifar and Abar were inspired by the way intricate forms emerge from the patient repetition of simple elements, and they made that principle the backbone of everything here. It is a surprisingly old idea to apply to contemporary furniture design, but that is part of what makes the execution feel considered rather than gimmicky. Each piece is constructed from interconnected spherical modules in Grade 404 stainless steel with a nickel-chrome finish. The result reads as opulent without being overwrought, sculptural without needing to announce itself.

The rocking chair is where the collection’s internal logic gets genuinely interesting. On paper, chrome steel spheres and a piece of furniture meant to sway gently do not sound like natural partners. The spheres carry an obvious rigidity, an almost architectural seriousness. But paired with curved wooden runners beneath and a soft cushion on top, the chair pulls off a kind of material negotiation that should not work as well as it does. You see the tension and it reads as deliberate. It is.

The bench and chair follow the same logic. Polished steel spheres form the body, a cushion in red or velvet sits on top, and the whole thing manages to look both industrial and inviting at the same time. It is the kind of furniture that makes you want to sit in it before you even think to ask whether it is actually comfortable. For a limited-edition piece, that is exactly the instinct you want to provoke.

Then there is the pet home, which is either the collection’s best joke or its most earnest moment, depending on how you look at it. The same modular sphere system that supports a grown adult on the rocking chair now forms a miniature shelter for a cat, a cat that, in the campaign images, looks perfectly unbothered living inside polished chrome walls. The designers describe it as the architectural boundary element now forming a miniature interior of its own, and while that framing reads a bit grand for a cat house, they are not entirely wrong. The logic holds, and it lands.

The floor lamp completes the picture by pushing the modular system beyond furniture altogether. Here, the spheres are no longer bearing weight or defining form. They are catching light, letting it fracture across their polished surfaces in ways that feel more jewel-like than industrial. It is a smart shift in function, and it shows how far a single design language can travel when the designers trust it enough to keep pushing rather than introducing something entirely new.

Raeisifar and Abar have tied the collection’s name to a metaphor. A wish, they suggest, takes shape through many small actions over time. One modest step, repeated often enough, eventually becomes something whole. The Wishes Collection makes that idea physical, and it works. Not because the metaphor is particularly new, but because the execution is committed enough to make you believe it.

For a limited-edition collection, Wishes does what the best ones do. It does not just sell you an object. It sells you on a way of thinking about design. And given how much of the current design conversation rewards loudness and novelty at almost any cost, a collection this disciplined, this committed to a single shape, feels more interesting, not less.

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The Sculptural Rocking Chair That Started as a Single Idea

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Most furniture design starts with a question: How do people sit? Aleks Forystek Studio started with a completely different one. What happens when a heavy sphere presses into a structural loop? The answer, it turns out, is a chair. But not just any chair. It’s Dooal, and it might be the most conceptually satisfying piece of furniture I’ve seen this year.

The premise sounds almost too simple. A sphere meets a loop. The loop yields under the weight, compressing and curving into a form that becomes, all at once, a backrest, a seat, a leg rest, and a rocking base. One gesture, one cause-and-effect sequence, and suddenly you have a fully resolved object. The audacity of that economy is hard not to admire.

Designer: Aleks Forystek Studio

I’ll admit my first instinct when I saw the images was purely aesthetic. The black and white photography does everything right. The curves catch light in a way that makes the chair look more like a cast sculpture than a functional object, and the close-up shots reveal a fine-lined ribbed texture that layers real depth onto an already commanding silhouette. Shot in near-darkness, Dooal looks cinematic. It has the kind of presence that makes you stop mid-scroll and just sit with it for a moment.

But the longer I looked, the more the concept started doing something to me. Forystek’s Chicago-land studio describes its work as committed to “destabilizing the familiar,” and that phrase lands differently once you understand the logic behind Dooal. The chair is familiar enough, a seat you can rock in, a shape the body immediately recognizes. Yet the process that created it is almost foreign to how we typically think about furniture. No separate components engineered together. No piece-by-piece assembly of form and function. Just a single physical interaction, preserved.

That’s a philosophical statement as much as a design one. The studio’s whole methodology centers on finding the latent potential within ordinary objects, pushing past the surface of what something is to explore what it could become when a single variable changes. With Dooal, that variable is weight. Pressure. The simple, undeniable force of a sphere doing exactly what gravity asks it to do.

What makes this feel significant right now is the context we’re sitting in. We live in an era of maximal complexity, where products get layered with features, materials compete for attention, and design often signals effort rather than intelligence. Dooal does the opposite. It argues that constraint is where creativity actually lives. That stripping a design down to one decisive action can produce something richer and more resolved than a process built on a dozen competing decisions.

And it’s not just theoretical. The rocking chair is one of the oldest, most human pieces of furniture we have. It exists in farmhouse porches and modernist living rooms with equal ease. It’s comfort distilled into motion. The fact that Dooal arrives at that form through a logic of compression rather than craft tradition feels both subversive and strangely inevitable. Like the chair was always there, waiting to be discovered rather than designed.

That sphere at the base of the loop is easy to overlook in the photographs. It’s small, nestled low, nearly swallowed by shadow. But without it, none of this exists. It’s the cause the entire object is an effect of, and the fact that it remains visible in the final form is a choice that rewards people who look closely. That kind of embedded storytelling, where the origin of an object is literally written into its body, is rare in furniture design. It elevates Dooal from chair to argument.

Aleks Forystek Studio is not a household name yet. But Dooal is the kind of work that earns attention quietly. Not because it’s loud, but because it’s precise. Because it asks a stubborn, specific question and then answers it completely. Whether you care about objects for their beauty, their ideas, or the story behind them, this chair has all three. And it got there with one moment of contact.

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The 2-Person Rocking Bench Made From 55kg of Plastic Waste

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Most furniture tells you exactly what to do with it. A chair says sit. A table says set things down. A bench says sit, maybe share the space. The X Bench Swing, the latest from Rotterdam-based studio The New Raw, has a slightly more interesting ask: sit, rock, and do it facing the opposite direction from whoever’s sitting next to you.

That setup sounds strange until you see it. The bench seats two people, but the clever part is that both sitters face opposite ways while sharing a single rocking motion. Think of it less like a traditional bench and more like a kinetic sculpture that happens to be incredibly functional. The form is defined by two intersecting volumes that create a sculptural, sturdy X-shaped structure. It’s the kind of piece that makes you want to walk around it before you sit down.

Designer: The New Raw

The New Raw describes the design’s intent with quiet confidence: “X Bench explores movement as a design principle.” That could easily read as throwaway design-speak, but when you look at the object itself, it actually lands. The rocking motion isn’t just a feature. It’s the whole point of the bench. The movement is built into the geometry, encoded in the alternating orientation of the seats, and made possible by a curved base that lets both sitters sway in rhythm even while facing away from each other.

And yes, it’s 3D printed, but not the kind of 3D printing you might be picturing. The New Raw works with industrial robotic arms to fabricate their pieces layer by layer from recycled polypropylene (rPP), plastic waste that would otherwise not have much of a future. Each X Bench uses 55 kilograms of recycled plastic and saves an estimated 143 kilograms of CO2 compared to conventional manufacturing. The studio sources materials from local recyclers in Rotterdam, prints on demand, and uses no adhesives or mixed materials, which means every piece can be fully recycled at the end of its life. The sustainability story here isn’t bolted on as an afterthought. It is the manufacturing philosophy.

The result is a bench that looks nothing like recycled plastic is supposed to look. The surface texture has a tactile, almost geological quality. The layered printing process turns what could be a visual liability into a genuine aesthetic. It reads as warm and handcrafted even though a robot arm built it. That tension between industrial process and sensory finish is, arguably, The New Raw’s most consistent signature across their body of work.

At 70 x 140 x 76 cm, the X Bench isn’t small, but it’s sized for real use. It works indoors or out, which makes it an easy fit for public spaces, gardens, lobbies, or any room that can absorb a statement piece without turning into a gallery. The studio describes it as suited for spaces “with an open-hearted character,” which I’d translate as: don’t put this in a minimalist white box and expect it to whisper quietly in the corner.

The social dimension baked into the design is where the piece gets genuinely interesting. Sitting across from someone on a bench is one kind of dynamic. Sitting back to back while you both rock is another kind of conversation entirely. It invites a sideways glance, a shared rhythm, an awareness of another person without the weight of direct eye contact. For a piece of furniture, that’s a lot to offer.

A lot of sustainable design right now carries a slightly apologetic quality, as if the environmental credentials are meant to compensate for aesthetic compromise. The X Bench doesn’t do that. It’s confident, a little playful, and the fact that it’s made from waste plastic feels like a bonus rather than a burden. The New Raw has been quietly making that argument with their work for years. With the X Bench Swing, they’re making it more clearly than ever.

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Rocking stool lets you relax while moving back and forth

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One of my favorite childhood memories is immediately getting on a rocking chair/horse/stool whenever I see one and just rocking like crazy until I get dizzy. But of course as you grow older, it becomes frowned upon when a fully grown adult tries to ride one, especially if it’s built for kids (and you might damage it). But who says we can’t or shouldn’t enjoy one that’s specifically built for grown ups?

Designer: Dsignio

Platero is a rocking pouffe that is created specifically for people in the office that are bored sitting on regular chairs and need a break from their mundane routine. It’s a stool with a curved base that lets you rock it back and forth and change positions if you need some sort of motion as you rest for a while or even when you’re doing actually work but need a more creative work environment.

It also has a side table in front so you can place your laptop, tablet, notebook, book, or any tool that you want to use as you rock back and forth. So that probably rules out coffee or food as it might spill or fall off the chair as you sway it around. It also has an ergonomic design so you probably feel comfortable when sitting on it, or as comfortable as you can get on a stool. At least there’s a back rest part so it’s better than most stools that just have a seating part.

It comes in different finishes but the side table part is mostly wooden. If you suffer from motion sickness though, this stool may not be the best option for you to relax in the middle of work. Well, unless you use it to practice getting used to moving around.

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UFO rocking chair combines a playful character with a striking, elegant design

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Humanity has always had a fascination with the heavens, including the possibility of other intelligent life out there in the stars. Of course, there is no definite proof yet, but there is definitely no shortage of reports claiming to have seen UFOs or unidentified flying objects. Popular media have made the flying saucer the most iconic form of UFO, even though there’s probably no logical reason why they’d take that shape. Nonetheless, that form has inspired many an Earthly design, including this distinctive chair that looks like a lopsided UFO from afar and a majestic, almost futuristic throne up close.

Designer: Mavimatt

A rocking chair more often than not conjures up images of an antiquated wooden chair with arcs for legs that make it swing back and forth. Even among chairs, this design is already peculiar, mostly because it is far from the stable and unmoving concept that most people have for seating furniture, and this UFO-inspired treatment takes it to the next level, going beyond the stars, figuratively speaking. Beyond the initial shock factor, however, the design carries an air of class that will actually surprise you when you sit on it for the first time and discover, to your delight, that it can actually rock back and forth or even spin on its bottom.

The bowl-shaped exterior of this unusual rocking chair isn’t exactly a perfect curve, which allows the form to move without tipping over. Viewed from the side, it looks like a UFO that is either in sharp descent or has already crashed on the ground, denting its front and causing the rear to stick up and out. Made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, the structure of the chair is as strong as you’d expect from a spacecraft, or at least a piece of furniture inspired by one.

Viewed from the front, however, the chair looks less alien and more regal, almost like a throne from some futuristic civilization. There are no formal armrests for the chair, but the inner seat foam’s shape and material easily adapt to the body of the person, giving proper and comfortable support all the time. The radiating design of the seat puts the person right in the middle and emphasizes their presence, making them the visual center of the composition. Italian primofiore leather or fine fabrics are used for the upholstery, giving the chair a luxurious appearance and texture truly fit for monarchs or alien overlords.

Rather than simply sticking to the stereotypical appearance of a UFO, which would have meant glossy metal textures and colors, this UFO rocking chair opens the possibility of a wide number of designs, turning the shell of the chair into a canvas for display art, characters, or even the nighttime sky. Whether you associate it with a flying saucer or not, this Unidentified Furniture Object will surely capture anyone’s attention with its otherworldly beauty and give them the experience of their lives, sitting on a majestic chair that moves as if it were floating on air.

The post UFO rocking chair combines a playful character with a striking, elegant design first appeared on Yanko Design.

UFO rocking chair combines a playful character with a striking, elegant design

Posted on by

Humanity has always had a fascination with the heavens, including the possibility of other intelligent life out there in the stars. Of course, there is no definite proof yet, but there is definitely no shortage of reports claiming to have seen UFOs or unidentified flying objects. Popular media have made the flying saucer the most iconic form of UFO, even though there’s probably no logical reason why they’d take that shape. Nonetheless, that form has inspired many an Earthly design, including this distinctive chair that looks like a lopsided UFO from afar and a majestic, almost futuristic throne up close.

Designer: Mavimatt

A rocking chair more often than not conjures up images of an antiquated wooden chair with arcs for legs that make it swing back and forth. Even among chairs, this design is already peculiar, mostly because it is far from the stable and unmoving concept that most people have for seating furniture, and this UFO-inspired treatment takes it to the next level, going beyond the stars, figuratively speaking. Beyond the initial shock factor, however, the design carries an air of class that will actually surprise you when you sit on it for the first time and discover, to your delight, that it can actually rock back and forth or even spin on its bottom.

The bowl-shaped exterior of this unusual rocking chair isn’t exactly a perfect curve, which allows the form to move without tipping over. Viewed from the side, it looks like a UFO that is either in sharp descent or has already crashed on the ground, denting its front and causing the rear to stick up and out. Made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, the structure of the chair is as strong as you’d expect from a spacecraft, or at least a piece of furniture inspired by one.

Viewed from the front, however, the chair looks less alien and more regal, almost like a throne from some futuristic civilization. There are no formal armrests for the chair, but the inner seat foam’s shape and material easily adapt to the body of the person, giving proper and comfortable support all the time. The radiating design of the seat puts the person right in the middle and emphasizes their presence, making them the visual center of the composition. Italian primofiore leather or fine fabrics are used for the upholstery, giving the chair a luxurious appearance and texture truly fit for monarchs or alien overlords.

Rather than simply sticking to the stereotypical appearance of a UFO, which would have meant glossy metal textures and colors, this UFO rocking chair opens the possibility of a wide number of designs, turning the shell of the chair into a canvas for display art, characters, or even the nighttime sky. Whether you associate it with a flying saucer or not, this Unidentified Furniture Object will surely capture anyone’s attention with its otherworldly beauty and give them the experience of their lives, sitting on a majestic chair that moves as if it were floating on air.

The post UFO rocking chair combines a playful character with a striking, elegant design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Wobbling rocking chair adds a playful twist to an everyday piece of furniture

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We expect chairs to be stable, otherwise, we will never have the confidence or even the courage to take a seat on them. There are seats that are designed to move, though, from the wheels on office chairs to the rocking motion of a rocking chair, swing, or hammock. But what if the instability is actually an intentional part of the design, generating not fear but a sense of thrill and even playfulness? That’s the kind of experience that this odd-looking chair concept tries to offer, with a design that makes it look like a cross between a spacecraft seat and a child’s toy top. It turns out, it even moves like one as well!

Designer: Ellie Kim

A wobbling chair is probably the last thing you’d want to rest your body on, but if you’re actually looking for a more engaging and dynamic experience, this almost spherical seat is probably something you’d want to try out. After all, no one sits on a swing to relax but to actually be pumped up, enjoy, and maybe even trigger one’s creativity and imagination. At the same time, however, it has to be not only comfortable but also reassuring, as you don’t want your wobbling experience to be your last.

Designing a chair that rocks in all directions isn’t easy, even after you get the idea to use a concave base. You have to make sure you don’t completely tip over to any side, which is what a lip or ridge around the base is for. You’ll also have to come up with a design for the rest of the chair that not only provides support but also properly conveys the design’s more dynamic nature.

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Thus, a circular chair is born with fins extruding from the middle like spokes on a wheel. The chair looks more like a turbine than a piece of furniture, but the design of each part is by no means based on whimsy. The top fins better cradle the seat and integrate it with the circular bottom half, while the bottom fins actually support the forces that the ridge will encounter with its rocking motion. Plus, it looks a lot more interesting, and its radial design immediately conveys the idea that it can move in almost any direction. As a bonus, the structure of the base and the ridge make it look like the chair is floating, adding to its sci-fi identity.

The end result is a chair that wobbles with pride and confidence, allowing the person on top to experience childlike play in every movement. It’s not going to replace any office or home chair, and it’s hardly an ergonomic design. But no one’s going to blame you for having a bit of fun rocking and spinning around on a chair that’s clearly designed to help you enjoy the lighter moments in life.

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Quirky rocking chair’s jagged design creates an illusion of a ‘motion blur’

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Bordering on visually uncomfortable, this rocking chair from Instagram user Muddycap has us captivated for all the right reasons! The chair has a highly unusual design, with severely jagged edges that simulate the feeling of movement. Building on the concept of visual permanence and the motion blur, this chair creates the illusion of being in constant motion, even when it’s standing still.

Designer: Muddycap

The Fast Rocking Chair, as it’s aptly called, comes crafted from Maple wood and secured with a coat of paint to hide the wood-grain which would give the illusion away. Each chair features different pieces of wood, cut using a mechanical saw to match the unique shapes, and joined together using traditional joineries. The result is a chair that looks cartoonishly fast, prompting you to spend more time looking at it. Sure, you could sit on it too – it might look jagged but it isn’t uncomfortable.

The jagged design exists only on the side profiles, so there’s really no danger of you hurting yourself while sitting on the rocking chair. The seat and armrest are flat, and the backrest has a mild corrugated design. That being said, the chair is definitely a health hazard for kids and pets who may often run around the house. While most furniture have a few sharp edges, the Fast Rocking Chair is essentially an invitation to the ER for children or pets with zoomies, or adults with ADHD.

However, the rocking chair makes for a really fun visual experiment. Muddycap’s entire Instagram profile is filled with such explorations, aiming at turning furniture into conversation pieces rather than have them stuck in the realm of hardcore functionality. The rocking chairs obviously aren’t for sale, although there’s no denying that they certainly do look rather mesmerizing.

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