Rethink/Renew Form and Function
The design concept of ordinary objects for daily life can also arise from various historical, cultural and technological influences. Making the ordinary extraordinary is the simple goal of this ongoing project. The objects in the making are Wave, an everything holder, and Ban Deng, a reinterpretation of a traditional Chinese bench.
As designers, we debate the various relationships between form and function. Does form follow function? Is form independent of function? Will form reinvigorate function?
Ban Deng | Traditional BanDeng
Ban Deng | New BanDeng
Ban Deng: A reinterpretation of a Chinese Bench
Ban Deng is the Chinese translation for a long bench. The traditional Ban Deng has a very straight forward design, usually constructed from a long piece of solid wood supported by two A frame legs with mortise and tenon joineries. The Ban Deng has been praised as the most economically made structurally efficient and functional piece of furniture. Unlike a chair, which only fits one person, Ban Deng brings more people together sitting side by side. Can Ban Deng take on a new form, not so straightforward. Can Ban Deng connect with each to form a crowd themselves? Here comes our version of Ban Deng.
Wave: The Everything Holder
We asked the question when we rethink the form of a laboratory pegboard. A typical pegboard has equal length pegs to hold various shape of glassware. What if the pegs have various length and dance like a wave? It can be reintroduced as a household object, not just used as a drying rack but also as a coat rack and organize your hats, mittens and other essentials.