Dezeen School Shows: a stool that doubles as a chair for children and a puzzle for adults is among the conceptual product designs by students at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.
Also featured is a stool inspired by a Japanese bell and another crafted from wood and washi paper.
Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts
Institution: University school corporation
School: Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts
Course: Department of Design
Tutor: Hiroki Takada
School statement:
“We are sharing product designs from Okinawa, a southern island of Japan.
“The Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts is an educational environment blessed with beautiful nature and a unique culture. The lush natural surroundings and the island’s traditional culture nurture creativity and provide artistic inspiration.
“Through art, we believe you can discover the important values and goals that give meaning to ‘living’.
“This project was exhibited at Milan Salone Satellite 2025. This is a second year bachelor’s degree studio project and the theme is let’s create a stool for Milan Salone!”
Cat Cat Cat by Sen Itoman
“This work focuses on the popularity of cats in contemporary Japan and the influence that they have had on its culture.
“Cats are not a new craze. They have been popular since the Edo period (1603 to 1868), and have been a source of healing for people since then. As evidence of this, many ukiyoe works depicting cats remain and their visually appealing expressions have been loved until the present day.
“This work adopts the motif of ‘Yose-e (trompe l’oeil),’ one of the traditional Japanese techniques of Ukiyo-e expression. This technique is well known in works by Kuniyoshi Utagawa and has been popular among both adults and children since the Edo period.
“The stools can be used in any way users like – divided into three pieces, combined to sit on, used as a book support or played with. It can also function as an educational toy or communication tool.
“I aimed to create a work that allows the viewer to experience culture and expression more deeply through both the senses of sight and touch.”
Student: Sen Itoman
Course: Product Design
Memory by Mei Maehara
“Memory is a stool with a seat made of paper. After spending a pleasant time sitting on the stool, the user turns the pages of the seat and leaves a message on it.
“Memory is the one and only stool that brings people together over time.”
Student: Mei Maehara
Course: Product Design
Screw by Hiroto Nakamura
“Screw is a stool that anchors into the earth like a wine opener.
“Living in Okinawa, I deeply value my connection with nature. This stool is inspired by the form and motion of a wine opener – it is designed to be twisted into the ground, just like removing a cork from a wine bottle.
“The act of driving the stool into the earth symbolises a physical and emotional bond with nature. Its distinctive spiral structure also allows users to adjust the height freely, adapting to their preferred way of sitting.”
Student: Hiroto Nakamura
Course: Product Design
Musubi by Mizuki Chinen
“Musubi is a foldable stool featuring a bow knot motif. This stool features a design inspired by the ‘Mizuhiki’ bow knot, a traditional Japanese decorative cord.
“The stool consists of two separate parts that can be folded and stored compactly. It can be easily assembled without the use of nails or screws.
“The pieces of wood are connected using Kami Chōban, a hinge made of traditional Japanese washi paper.”
Student: Mizuki Chinen
Course: Product Design
Woodland by Mingbo Hou
“Woodland is not just a chair, but a functional art piece that brings the form of a tree into interior spaces. Its branch-like backrest allows users to hang garments and accessories, turning daily routines into poetic expressions.
“Each item placed onto the chair gives it life, transforming it into a growing tree. Blending sculpture and utility, Woodland becomes part of the room’s identity, reflecting the user’s style while enriching the space with natural elegance.”
Student: Mingbo Hou
Course: Product Design
The Chubby Hands Children’s Chair by Tian Dongze
“The Chubby Hands Children’s Chair draws inspiration from elements cherished by children.
“Its form merges simple geometric shapes – spheres and conical frustums – with the structural essence of ancient Chinese traditional ceramic ‘Li’ vessels, resulting in an innovative chair design.
“The chair incorporates functional elements such as legs, a backrest and integrated toy storage.
“The three rounded legs not only serve an educational purpose by sparking children’s creativity but also symbolise the Chinese cultural concept of harmony and balance, reflecting parents’ hopes and aspirations for their children’s growth.”
Student: Tian Dongze
Course: Product Design
Ocean Fade by Mei Makabe
“Dyed with Ryukyu indigo, this stool has a soothing oceanic feel. This stool expresses the gradation of the Okinawan sea using traditional Ryukyu indigo dyeing.
“The deep Ryukyu blue – which cannot be achieved with chemical dyes – brings a breath of nature into the space and calms the mind. It is not just a piece of furniture, but an entity that frees the person sitting on it from everyday life and brings a special moment to them.
“This chair – a fusion of tradition and modernity – brings the beauty of Okinawa close to us and adds rich colour to our lives.”
Student: Mei Makabe
Course: Product Design
Star side table by Masashi Uehara
“Everywhere in the world, the stars show us their brilliance. Many of us have been inspired by the stars. The 18 constellations and the universe that appear in the sky during the summer season are represented by metal rods assembled by metal welding.
“The silver painted areas are the constellations and the light blue painted areas are the universe. This side table reminds people who can only see a part of the stars – due to city lights – of their richness and beauty.”
Student: Masashi Uehara
Course: Product Design
Moon flower stool by Yue Higa
“I love the beautiful things in nature that surround me. So I came up with the idea of a fantastical chair that ‘combines’ the moon and flowers.
“Sitting on it will give you a sense of healing and unreality. The legs express the strength of the life force of the flower that grows from the roots.
“The flower part also functions as an armrest, so you can sit in a relaxed and stable position. The moon-shaped curve of the seat fits the body well, giving it a convenient and soft impression.”
Student: Yue Higa
Course: Product Design
Inside Out by Nao Fujimura
“This product was inspired by the shape of toys that children play with. Is this product a small furniture piece for children? Or a big toy for adults to play with?
“I aimed to create a flexible and unique product that both adult and children can think about and enjoy together, just as they would play with a toy.
“It can be used as a small stool and mini table set for children, or as a set of two stools for parents and children to use together.
“The light green three-legged stool can be inserted from all four sides of the box and played with like a puzzle. The user can experiment with various ways of using the product in his or her own fun way, which brings out the pure imagination and intuition of the user.”
Student: Nao Fujimura
Course: Product Design
Arch by Anmi Iwano
“This stool is inspired by a bell called ‘Bankoku Shinryo no Kane,’ located in Okinawa, Japan.
“The bell was created during a time when Okinawa was an independent kingdom. At that time, Okinawa was a vibrant hub for trade with other countries, attracting people from various places.
“The name ‘Bankoku Shinryo no Kane’ means a bell that serves as a bridge connecting the ports of many nations. Similarly, this stool was designed with the intention of creating a space where people of all nationalities and races can come together and interact.”
Student: Anmi Iwano
Course: Product Design
Partnership content
This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Okinawa Prefectural University of Art. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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