Zog Chair | Furniture Design

Zog Chair draws from the symbolic power of childhood memories, invoking the simplicity and wonder of nostalgic moments. The concept was to transform the essence of an ogre-like creature into a functional, passive object—one that people engage with in their everyday lives. This chair is more than furniture; it’s a playful yet evocative piece designed to stir emotions and curiosity.

Nostalgia gains emotional weight as we grow, with time lending sentimental value to objects and memories from our past.

This reflection led me to revisit beloved childhood classics like Monsters Inc. and Shrek, where the distinctive shapes, exaggerated features, and unique textures of the characters sparked a wave of creative possibilities. The playful forms in these films served as a powerful influence in shaping Zog's design.

From the beginning, I had a clear vision for the Zog Chair: the form would not merely mimic a creature but become a creature, with the functional design emerging naturally from its anatomy. Rather than simply adding creature-like features to a chair, I aimed to design a being that inherently took on the shape of a chair, allowing it to serve as a functional object.

The back legs evolved into two elongated arms, extending from the top of the backrest and arching down to the floor, complete with four articulated fingers on each hand. These hands give the piece a dynamic presence, as though the creature is resting its weight upon them. Meanwhile, the front legs of the chair were designed to resemble short, sturdy feet, grounding the form in both stability and character. Viewed from the side, the Zog Chair appears to stand before you, poised like a living entity with arms and legs—yet its shape seamlessly accommodates a human sitter.

After solidifying the concept, I used free association to develop the form, relying on VR sculpting in Adobe Substance Modeler to craft Zog’s distinct structure (see reference board below). Once the overall shape was realized, I transitioned to Blender, where I added the final textured surface, giving the chair its gritty, tactile feel. The result is a seamless fusion of playful imagination and functional design.