Graduate Xiang Guan Designs Furniture That Only Works When A Human Is Present

Rethinking about the relationship between the human and the objects.

A graduate student, Xiang Guan at Central Saint Martins has designed an impressive design of furniture. The specialty of this furniture is that it only functions when a human presence around it or when it comes in contact with a human.

Xiang Guan designed the furniture with the aim of encouraging users to rethink about the relationship they have with the objects. He sees the project as a reaction against today’s consumer culture. His intention was to dissuade people from seeing everyday objects simply as tools and slaves.

Graduate Xiang Guan Designs Furniture That Only Works When A Human Is Present

He has designed a desk and chair that can’t stand without support and a lamp that only turns on when worn as a hat. The desk and chair both only have two legs with leather covered metal supports that make them attach to a person. There are also two hooks connected with the table, designed on the shoulder position. These attachments lead the user to have better posture.

Guan said, “As designers, we should use design to lead, and tell people to think more about the daily objects around them, not just throw them away. It has a huge effect in achieving a sustainable world.”

Graduate Xiang Guan Designs Furniture That Only Works When A Human Is Present

The lamp that comes along with the table is worn like a hat. Guan designed it in a helmet shape with base slipping. Once it worn, it lightens up.

Thanks to the additional holes, when the furniture not in use, all three objects can be slotted into one another.

Guan said, “My purpose when designing this furniture was not to make it easy to use, but to indicate the interaction between people and objects.”

Graduate Xiang Guan Designs Furniture That Only Works When A Human Is Present

“For example, when you are not seated on the chair, it will fall to the ground. When you want to use it you need to bend down to hold it up and be part of the chair.”

Guan presented his work at school’s degree show.

He claimed, “Visitors found the furniture much more comfortable to use than they expected. Although the pieces take some practice to get used to, visitors to the show quickly became used to it, even feeling part of it.”

Latest Updates

Trending