Dutch Design Week: designer Kiki van Eijk presents a cabinet that opens like a giant sewing box at her studio in Eindhoven this week as part of Dutch Design Week (+ movie).
The cabinet was made of Elm by a carpenter in Arnhem and features knobs cast in solid brass.
The mechanism is supported by springs so that pulling on one side opens up the whole structure, despite its weight, without a motor or electronic components. "I wanted to have the analogue feel of this old-school sewing box, and I wouldn't like it if you have to open it with two people or if there's a motor inside because then it becomes something electronic and it really doesn't fit with the idea," van Eijk told Dezeen, adding that the project took four years to perfect because the mechanics were so tricky.
See all our stories about Kiki van Eijk and all our stories about Dutch Design Week, which continues until 28 October.
Photos are courtesy of Studio Kiki van Eijk.
Nice knobs. That’s a statement right there.
One of the worst designs I’ve seen on this great site. Ugly shape, and a flimsy and completely impractical use of the tackle box mechanism. The designer/demonstrator cannot see inside the top five compartments, it requires a significant amount of space to open and the top compartment apparently does not close.
Folded down it has the normal proportions of a cabinet. Once opened, you need a ladder to reach what’s in the upper boxes. How much sense does that make?
That is also a lot of wood for so little storage. There is no idea and no consideration behind this. By just blowing up an otherwise handy item you don’t create design.
I want my scissors. Which drawer was it?
Very Dutch. Blow it up and lose the detail. The nobs are just a cheap trick. As stated earlier in the comments, it’s totally unpractical and only usefull in your ivory-tower-like workspace. Snobbish at most.
Completely agree with everyone else; what was she thinking?
I think the design is quite interesting, makes for a good conversation starter. The opening action looks very fluid.
So ridiculous. Unless this is a storage cabinet for feathers, it is going to be extremely hard to open once full of things. It also looks very fragile. One bump from the side and the whole thing collapses. That would be a scary situation.
Is this product designed to serve only itself? Instead of thinking “what can I do to get noticed?” we as designers could ask ourselves “how can we REALLY make a difference and improve things”. It’s sometimes hard to give an answer, but we should try at least!
Can you imagine if your hand gets crushed between the boxes?
Kiki has stretched the limit of a practical design to art. Brava! It's wonderful.
Goodbye, finger!
Why is it so big? Why is it not on the floor so you can get things out?