APOLOGIST I & II is an inquiry into the paradox of modern consumerism. The project reinterprets IKEA products — expressing the tension between the reliance on mass-manufacturing economy and the resurging demand for handmade sensibility. A glorified Ikea flip, if you may.

First is a coffee table made from the SKOGSTA bench with additional rounded edges, a cut-out handle for carrying, and a partially stained finish, introducing a subtle warmth and playfulness to the utilitarian object. 

Second is a hybrid between the IKEA RY side table’s structure and a hand-carved Japanese lacquerware tray-turn-top. An assemblage that represents the clashing design approach without compromising their respective functionality.

Penny is a utilitarian portrayal of the prestigious Ngombe stool (Republic of Congo). In contrast to the traditionally carved solid-wood reclining seat and tacked-metal pattern of the handcrafted stool, Penny celebrates the inherent beauty of machine-made materials.

By employing the form of the repurposed bent plywood, standardized pipe fixtures, and copper air chambers, the design restates the Ngombe sculptural form in a contemporary manner. 

With Lina Bo Bardi’s SESC Pompéia stool as precedent, the small living stool re-contextualizes the original utilitarian and economized stool for modern living space.

Through minimal structural iteration, the stool now offers multi-functions of seating, step stool, and storage, dictated by its orientation. The incremental dimensional adjustments were made to provide proper ergonomics while maintaining her design characteristics. Using only one plank of wood and a standardized fixture, the redesign stays true to Bo Bardi’s vernacular, utilitarian, and user-centric approach.

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Inspired by the ephemeral nature of celebratory gatherings in relation to the use of disposable serveware, the designs aim to provoke the user’s perception of object functionality and its life cycle. The plastic martini and wine glasses that once served drinks to guests are now serving a second life as a seating object.

Designed to resemble a champagne tower, the loose structure is only secure with the fitted cork pad. The heightened anticipation and anxiety induced by the unstable structure force the user to consciously consider what and how they are consuming, in this case, the act of sitting.

Inspired by Enzo Mari’s Autoprogettazione project, the adult-friendly rocking horse aims to encapsulate the constructivist design language.

With emphasis on the side profile of the horse, the neck and tail angles, and the construction sequences reflects Enzo’s original design.