Inflations

When designing the Osaka shop for the Danish lifestyle brand HAY, we needed display fixtures that could be stored in a small backroom, which led me to start experimenting with PVC material. This experience sparked the idea for this project. Based on the concept of inflating the object and folding it down for storage, I began testing its functionality and structure. I found myself drawn to the way the material expands with air, creating adorable wrinkles and a surface that’s pushed out, while also discovering the profound, uncontrollable nature of its form.

For this project, I continued developing shapes in the same emotional direction I found back then. By cutting out and joining different pattern variations, inflating them with air, and observing the appeal of these shapes, I gradually honed the design. As I explored the forms, I discovered ways to sit on them, to lean into them, and further refined the designs to fulfill those functions. This process ultimately led to the creation of these furniture pieces and objects.

I’d also like to note that with the current trend of reducing overall plastic usage, the PVC material has come under renewed focus, adding momentum to this project.