studio gorm designs practical products that draw from the minimalism of the shakers’ sect

founded in 2007 by john arndt and wonhee arndt, oregon-based studio gorm is a design office that creates simple, practical and thoughtful products, furniture, lighting, interiors, and exhibitions. working with a variety of international clients, the duo’s designs are informed by their speculative academic research which explores culture, history and technology and how objects and ideas evolve to fit the needs of modern life. 

all images courtesy of studio gorm

peg furniture system

studio gorm works in a variety of scales; from personal homeware products, such as carafes and utensils to private and public furniture, and entire interiors. with backgrounds in sculpture and craft, the duo creates functional objects through methods rooted in physical making and an experimental constructive approach to design. works include: peg, a furniture system that can be disassembled and hung on the wall when not in use; a series of public seats for MMCA korea; and a standing conference table for company HBF.

many of the studio’s designs draw from the shakers, a millenarian restorationist christian sect founded in the 18th century in england. their hard work resulted in numerous furnishings characterized by simplicity, practicality and perfection, which the studio has channeled through their furnishing utopia project, as well as through various of their designs such as peg.

the furnishing utopia project, photo by charlie schuck

twin carafe

shaker baskets

round and square caddy

seating furniture created for MMCA korea  

standing conferance table created for HBF  

project info:

designer: studio gorm