Yerin Do adds leather “parasites”
to wooden furniture

Graduate designer Yerin Do presented leather clothes hooks that slot into wooden surfaces to make them look like they’re infested with fungi at the Royal College of Art degree show, which opened last week (+ slideshow).

For her Parasite Hooks project, Do drilled angled holes into the wooden surfaces of a wardrobe and an armchair.

Leather offcuts were snipped into diamond shapes and rolled into cones, then inserted into the holes.

She described the process as “like planting” and told Dezeen that the project references the natural world. “Mushroom and moss grow on the trunks of trees, mussels growing on sea rocks – I am fascinated by these creatures that use the surface of another being as their base,” said Do. “They change its appearance and characteristic entirely.”

“I wanted to mimic this natural phenomenon on a common interior material – wood,” she added. “By using leather in various thicknesses and sizes, I am able to create unusual yet somehow familiar patterns and texture on any wooden surface.”

Although described by the designer as “parasite” hooks, the leather pieces add functionality to the items they are attached to.

“The leather parasites benefit their hosts by adding a hook function for hanging clothing and accessories,” said Do.

The leather pieces can also be attached to walls, columns and doors to utilise them for storage.

Do completed the project while studying on the MA Design Products course at the Royal College of Art in London.

Her designs are on display at Show RCA 2014, the institution’s annual graduate showcase, until 29 June.

Other projects exhibited include a loom that can weave in three dimensions, and a flexible and reusable packaging system for valuable goods. See more projects from Show RCA 2014 »

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