Demeter Fogarasi’s Pinsofa recreates pincushions as a furniture

Pinsofa appears like an abstract animated object that has jumped straight out of a cartoon show. It is a flat rectilinear bench-like seating, cradled and supported by diagonally placed sticks that resemble pins, but in an exaggerated size. Deriving inspiration from the pin cushions that the designer would see lying around in sunlit studios or households, Demeter Fogarasi crafted an enlarged version that not only replicates the smaller pincushions but also serves as a utilitarian piece of furniture. “Walking through the classroom with beautiful sunshine coming through the windows, I discovered a new beauty in the needles sticking out of the needle pillows,” says Fogarasi.

The sofa makes for a fun furniture item that apart from serving the utilitarian role accredited to it, also masquerades as a play thing. Reminiscent of the towering objects that would surround us when we were kids, it emulates the pincushions, but in an exaggerated size. “My main idea was to have a playful concept, which refers to the inner child in every one of us. Enlarged objects by themselves generate the feeling of being little as children,” says Fogarsi.

The wooden needles, thin and slender in comparison to the thicker and bulkier cushions that they support, create the impression of a risk being taken. One may surmise that these pins will be unable to support the weight of the seat, thus inciting one’s curiosity to come closer to it and explore the sofa. However, the foam seating sits well upon the plywood structure, which is then perfectly supported by the ashwood legs held in place by screwed metal fixings that are detachable. This feature ensures that the sofa can easily be disassembled and flat-packed for storage or transportation.

“With the enlarged needles I am relating to textile techniques in an abstract way,” says Fogarasi, citing another inspiration behind his creation. The cushions at the ends of the pins, upholstered by hand from six pieces of Kvadrat fabrics, celebrate this connection with textiles and the techniques in which they are crafted. Together, the various ideas and memories that inspired the design come together to form a beautiful piece of utilitarian object cocooning multifarious flavours.

Fogarasi is a furniture designer based in Budapest. Having trained both as a designer and as an engineer, he easily creates innovative designs that are functional and feasible to assemble and place. He usually lets emotions guide his creative process, thus creating pieces that tell stories and attract spectators.