Owl chair by H220430, Japan Owl chair by H220430, Japan
Owl chair by H220430, Japan Owl chair by H220430, Japan

Sheet seat: A chair that children can build

07 : 01 : 2013 Folding Chair : Child-sized Chair : H220430

Tokyo – Japanese lighting and furniture design studio H220430 has created the Owl Chair, a child-sized seat that can be assembled from a single flexible sheet of foam rubber.

Director Satoshi Itasaka and colleagues were inspired to create a flexible folding chair by traditional Japanese arts that turn simple materials into intricate designs. The specifically mention origami and furoshiki, the art of covering an object with a single piece of cloth.

They also wanted to make an object that would be so simple and intuitive that children would be able to construct it themselves. The designers say that the fact that ‘a difficult-to-imagine shape like that of a chair is formed out of a plane body will certainly stimulate the creativity of children.’

The Owl Chair brings the fun and functionality of the Playbour Products we saw at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2012 to a younger group.

For more on design for Generation I, the next generation of digital natives, attend our forthcoming Trend Briefing.

Discover More Daily Signals
The Future Laboratory launches 2026 events calendar

Daily Signals

The Future Laboratory launches 2026 events calendar

The 2026 events calendar is here. Don’t just follow the future – get ahead of it. Join The Future Laboratory in 2026 for a programme of inspiring p...
The Future Laboratory : Events : Calendar
How diet sodas fell out of fashion

Daily Signals

How diet sodas fell out of fashion

Consumers are turning their backs on diet drinks, with zero sugar emerging as the preferred signifier of healthier indulgence.
Drink : Health : Food Retail
Stat: Alcohol abstinence in England rises as sober-curious lifestyles gain traction

Daily Signals

Stat: Alcohol abstinence in England rises as sober-curious lifestyles gain traction

Almost a quarter of adults in England (24%) now abstain from alcohol, marking a notable rise from previous years when non-drinkers consistently acc...
Drink : Stat : Statistics
How forpeople used bio-electrical tree data to shape Tree Aid’s rebranding

Daily Signals

How forpeople used bio-electrical tree data to shape Tree Aid’s rebranding

London-based creative studio forpeople has unveiled a pro bono rebranding for international development charity Tree Aid, placing living systems at...
Design : Nature : Technology
Bara brings Welsh flavours to South London

Daily Signals

Bara brings Welsh flavours to South London

Bara is London’s first café dedicated to Welsh cuisine, opening in February 2026 in Peckham, southeast London.
Food : Hospitality : Cuisine
Stat: Silent mental health crisis among women over 50

Daily Signals

Stat: Silent mental health crisis among women over 50

Almost two in three women over 50 in the UK struggle with their mental health, yet nearly nine in 10 do not seek help, according to new research co...
Generation X : Women's Health : Mental Health
Childline gamifies digital pressure to prompt reflection among teens

Daily Signals

Childline gamifies digital pressure to prompt reflection among teens

British counselling service Childline has launched a new campaign, Race to a Milli, designed to raise awareness of the pressures of online life for...
Technology : Health : Wellness
The Holiday & Travel Show 2026: Why experience-led staycations are defining the future of travel

Daily Signals

The Holiday & Travel Show 2026: Why experience-led staycations are defining the future of travel

Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show returned to Olympia London as a key barometer for the future of tourism, bringing together 600 travel b...
Travel : Hospitality : Staycations
Stat: Gen Z’s screen time isn’t slowing down

Daily Signals

Stat: Gen Z’s screen time isn’t slowing down

Despite growing cultural narratives about going offline, Gen Z’s screen time in the US is still accelerating.
Technology : Gen Z : Statistic
Fred Again builds emotional aftercare into live shows

Daily Signals

Fred Again builds emotional aftercare into live shows

British musician and producer Fred Again is rethinking post-concert care. In a recent Instagram post, the musician reflected on the abrupt ending o...
Live Music : Hospitality : Social Wellness
You have 1 free Daily Signals remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN