The South Korean design studio explores the limits of production and manufacturing with various sustainable materials, in order to design furniture, products and spaces.

In just three years, founders Hwachan Lee and Yoomin Maeng have collaborated with a wide range of brands and clients, offering diverse designs in the field of three-dimensional design. The "Kerf Plastic" collection is of particular interest to us. It stems from a larger experimental project, "World Play," which explores new approaches to materiality and construction. Here, the design duo uses recycled plastic panels and wood bending techniques to create a chair, an armchair, and a bench for Re;code, a Korean clothing brand.

As the creators explain: “We discovered that this material is very similar to plywood and we tried to apply the
The kerf bending technique is used to bend wood onto a sheet of recycled plastic. These rigid, thick plastic panels become soft and malleable without the use of heat, glue, or any chemical process. Utilizing the versatility and flexibility of this biomaterial, Kuo Duo offers three finished models with vibrant, abstract surfaces that blend functionality and comfort. The technique has notably demonstrated its potential for armrests, backrests, and seats of furniture with rounded edges. While the goal is to showcase untapped potential, the studio primarily aims to extend this process to all kinds of furniture and three-dimensional objects.

KUO-DUO.COM