Interview about Moose Multifunctional Cabinet, winner of the A' Furniture Design Award 2023
The Moose Cabinet is a handcrafted statement piece inspired by a Moose and is designed to be a Fun-ctional piece (Fun and Functional). The intriguing feature is the plug and play accessories. Antlers for your keys hats scarves, bowls for your accessories, open and closed shelves for what you want to display and store; mirrors to check your smile. It has push to open shutters, Moose's eye acts as a knob for the shutter and has beautiful green stained internals which astonishes everyone as no one expects it.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe Moose Cabinet was born from a desire to move beyond mundane, boxy storage designs and bring joy to everyday furniture. Inspired by our company (Name Place Animal Thing) logo—a universal animal monogram that transforms when different horns or antlers are added to it. I wanted to create a piece that was both functional and whimsical. The result is a playful, unconventional storage solution that perfectly reflects our studio’s ethos of blending creativity with purpose
The need to have more fun in life was the core inspiration to add unconventional colors for the interiors. The intent was that the furniture should add an element of fun or joy for the users. Actually when people open the shutters for the first time, they are surprised by the green stained internals and they immediately get a smile on their faces.
The green-stained interiors of the Moose Multifunctional Cabinet are my way of injecting an unexpected sense of joy into the design. I believe furniture should do more than serve a function—it should spark emotions. The vibrant green is deliberately unconventional, designed to surprise users when they open the shutters. That moment of discovery, where the unexpected color brings a smile or even a laugh, transforms a routine interaction into something memorable. It’s about creating a playful experience that leaves a lasting impression, aligning with our philosophy of designing with personality and purpose.
The distinctive antlers - actual function as holder for your key rings, hats, caps and scarves.The accessories bowl is very useful and can be used for storing your small knick-knacks that usually get lost in a storage drawers.
The antler-shaped hooks were designed to serve both form and function, acting as holders for everyday essentials like key rings, hats, caps, and scarves. They add a playful yet practical touch, making the cabinet more interactive. Similarly, the accessory bowls were developed with usability in mind—they're perfect for storing small, easy-to-misplace items like loose change, jewelry, or other knick-knacks that often disappear in traditional storage drawers. These elements not only enhance the cabinet’s functionality but also make it a more intuitive and user-friendly piece for daily life.
The eye-shaped knob was a simple yet intuitive solution that emerged naturally during the design process. Since the Moose’s head doubles as storage, it needed both an eye for the aesthetic and a knob for functionality—combining the two felt like an obvious choice. Initially, the eye-knob was placed on the extreme end of the head, with the hinge on the opposite side. However, during prototyping, we realized it would be more convenient for users if the knob and hinge positions were swapped. This small adjustment not only enhanced usability but also ensured the design remained cohesive and thoughtful.
The Moose Multifunctional Cabinet perfectly embodies our studio’s philosophy of creating 'FUN-ctional' pieces by blending playful aesthetics with practical design. Its whimsical form, inspired by our animal monogram, invites curiosity and joy, while its functional elements—like the antler hooks, accessory bowl, mirror and the tray for books and the eye-shaped knob—seamlessly integrate utility into the playful concept.This project reaffirmed the importance of balancing creativity with usability. Playful designs can capture attention, but their true value lies in how they fit into everyday life. With the Moose Cabinet, every design choice—whether aesthetic or functional—was made with the user in mind, ensuring the piece not only stands out but also serves a meaningful purpose. It’s taught us that joy and functionality aren’t mutually exclusive—they can coexist to elevate the user experience."
The Moose Multifunctional Cabinet’s design was deeply informed by extensive research into storage solutions and user behavior. We conducted both online and offline studies, analyzing furniture marketplaces, retail stores, and even homes within our personal network to gather insights. Observations from the Indian context revealed a strong preference for a mix of closed and open storage—closed storage for functionality and open spaces to display artifacts, miniatures, or books.A key insight was that the space above cabinets often remains underutilized, typically becoming a cluttered spot for daily knick-knacks and books. This realization inspired the addition of plug-and-play accessories to the Moose Cabinet, allowing users to creatively and effectively utilize this space. By balancing functionality with flexibility, we ensured the cabinet meets practical needs while offering a playful and customizable design experience.
Winning the Silver A' Design Award for the Moose Multifunctional Cabinet has been an incredible milestone, not just for the piece but for our studio as well. The recognition has brought global visibility to the design, sparking conversations around its playful yet practical approach. The market response has been overwhelmingly positive, with users appreciating its unique personality and multifunctional features.This feedback has encouraged me to refine the design further, exploring new materials, finishes, and modular elements to enhance its versatility. It has also inspired a broader vision for future pieces in the collection. We’re looking at ways to expand the concept of 'FUN-ctionality' across other furniture categories, creating designs that surprise, delight, and add value to everyday living. The award has reaffirmed our belief in pushing boundaries and has set the tone for an even more ambitious approach to our future work.
My vision for the Moose Multifunctional Cabinet is to inspire a shift in furniture design that goes beyond mere functionality, integrating personality and playfulness into everyday storage solutions. Furniture should not only solve a purpose but also spark joy and create an emotional connection with its users. The Moose Cabinet achieves this through its whimsical animal-inspired form and thoughtfully designed multifunctional elements like antler hooks and accessory bowls, which bring both personality and utility to the piece.I hope it encourages designers to think creatively about how furniture can engage users on multiple levels—practically, emotionally, and aesthetically. By challenging traditional norms and exploring the untapped potential of elements like the space above cabinets, we can create pieces that are not only versatile and functional but also delightful and memorable. This approach has the potential to redefine how we interact with furniture in our daily lives, making it an integral part of our personal expression and lifestyle.
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