Dezeen Magazine

David Weeks' miniature Bigfoot toy folds into a stackable cube

New York designer David Weeks has collaborated with German furniture brand e15 to release a decorative wooden character that resembles mythical creature Bigfoot.

Mr B by David Weeks Studio

Named Mr B, the 15-inch-tall (38 centimetres) figure is based on Week's iconic articulated Cubebot toy.

Mr B is composed of untreated solid oak, and is held together with elasticated textile bands that allow it to bend at the knee, waist, wrist and neck joints.

This also means it can be folded down into a small cube, which is based on the "footprint" of a single table leg from e15's Bigfoot dining table.

Mr B by David Weeks Studio

The character's arms and legs wrap neatly around his body, leaving his unibrowed expression visible from one side.

Mr B by David Weeks Studio

Weeks originally built his reputation and business around lighting design, with some of his pieces – including metal chandeliers with mobile arms and glossy domed or cylindrical shades – selling for over $15,000 (£9,800).

Mr B by David Weeks Studio

But in a recent interview with Dezeen he explained that he didn't want to be typecast.

"I don't want to be the lighting guy. I appreciate it, but I wanted to be more than that," he said.

Mr B by David Weeks Studio

This led to the creation of a range of articulated toys including the now iconic Cubebot designs – wooden robot sculptures based on Japanese shinto kumi-ki puzzles, which also fold into stackable cubes.

Mr B by David Weeks Studio

For Milan 2012, Weeks worked with Belgian design brand Quinze & Milan to create an oversized red version of the Cubebot toy that doubled as a seating area.

"The [toy] animals were the first cry for help, the first opportunity to really create an aesthetic and apply the same quality and level of detail that is in the lighting, but in a more accessible way," explained Weeks.

Mr B by David Weeks Studio

The foldable Mr B figure was launched on 15 October 2015 to celebrate e15's 20th anniversary, and also to commemorate two decades of its Bigfoot dining table.

Earlier this year the brand worked with British architect David Chipperfield on a collection of solid wood furniture made from flat planks of oak or walnut.