Archie – versatile furniture in Ash

It’s exciting to see innovative projects from young designers working with locally grown wood. 

We spotted ‘Archie’ on instagram. It incorporates a reworked tongue and groove joint, celebrates local timber, and embodies sustainable design practices with minimal waste and processing.

This versatile piece is from a recent graduate, who was happy to tell us more:

My name is Gigi Cooke, originally from Jersey, and I am a recent graduate who studied Furniture and Product Design at Bath Spa University. Throughout my education, I developed a strong interest in processes and materials, with a particular focus on locally grown timber.

Archie is my final project of my degree and it is a versatile piece of furniture that seamlessly transitions from a stool to a coffee table to a side table. 

It is driven by process and born out of a celebration of reworking the tongue and groove joint. Archie promotes sustainable design practices by prioritising locally sourced timber, and implementing manufacturing processes with minimal waste and processing. 

Why did you choose local ash, brimstone ash and oak? 

I chose to prioritise the use of natural timber, specifically locally sourced British timber. I wanted to showcase distinct local timbers such as Oak, Ash, and Brimstone Ash. Archie serves as a celebration of these timbers by highlighting their individuality, diverse grains, and unique characteristics. 

How did you develop the idea, and the prototype?

The design for Archie developed from the functional aspects of the joint and the beauty it brings. Driven by a passion for ‘design by process’ I concentrated on the traditional tongue and groove joint.

I explored variations, focused on the idea of showcasing local timber in a simple, striking form of arches. I wanted to capture the essence of the timber and highlight its natural beauty.

Archie transitions from a stool to a coffee table to a side table. It incorporates the reworked tongue and groove joint, celebrates local timber, and embodies sustainable design practices with minimal waste and processing.

What was the aim of this project? 

Archie is a demonstration of the opportunity for a furniture collection that minimises its environmental impacts. 

The aim was to create a versatile furniture design suitable for compact living spaces, while prioritising sustainability and utilising local timber. I wanted to minimise the environmental impact by promoting sustainable design practices and implementing minimal manufacturing processes with minimal waste. 

This led to the creation of Archie, a multifunctional furniture piece.

Archie transitions from a stool to a coffee table to a side table. It incorporates the reworked tongue and groove joint, celebrates local timber, and embodies sustainable design practices with minimal waste and processing.

What’s next?

As a recent graduate, my next step is to showcase Archie to the public at the New Designers Exhibition in London, which will be held in July. This exhibition will provide an opportunity to present my work to a wider audience and gain valuable feedback. 

I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and look forward to making a positive impact through sustainable and innovative design practices.

Website: https://www.gigicooke.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_gigi_design_/