Designers are developing fixing systems that allow raw or sheet materials to be assembled into furniture and taken apart just as easily. We've picked out five of the best examples. More about Five clever joint systems that transform basic materials into furniture without glue
Massachusetts-based designer and professor Iman S Fayyad has created a shelter from standard sheets of plywood, moulding it and fastening it with straps to form a "collective space" that is easy to assemble for the Chicago Architecture Biennial. More about Iman S Fayyad fastens plywood shelter with straps for Chicago Architecture Biennial
Swedish designer Martin Thübeck has constructed a furniture range with "infinite building possibilities" using reclaimed wood from a local birch sawmill. More about Martin Thübeck assembles modular furniture collection using one simple joint
Studio Sain worked with one of Austria's last remaining woodturners to develop this collection of hand-turned wooden products that feature moving parts or modular components. More about Studio Sain uses traditional hand-turning process to create products incorporating wooden ball joints
Connective joints are "design projects in their own right", according to the curators of the huge U-Joints exhibition during Milan design week. More about U-Joints exhibition examines the diverse world of construction joints
Sausage-shaped party balloons are used to secure the self-assembly furniture and toys designed by Kingston University graduate Fern Toynton. More about Balloons replace nails and screws for Inflate collection of children's furniture
New York artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz has created a sculptural wooden cabinet that slides apart to look like it has exploded (+ slideshow). More about Explosion Cabinet by Sebastian Errazuriz expands using sliding joints
Milan 2014: the hinges of these glasses by Japanese studio Nendo use magnets rather than screws to allow users to detach, mix and match arms in a range of different colours. More about Nendo replaces screws with magnets in Magne-hinge glasses
Danish designer Cecilie Manz has added a trestle table held together by strips of leather to Menu's 2014 collection of furniture and homeware. More about Cecilie Manz's Knot Trestle for Menu swaps screws for leather strips
This collapsible table by Berlin-based designer Jakob Timpe is made from nine pieces of wood that simply slot together with no screws, glue or tools (+ slideshow). More about Stand table by Jakob Timpe slots together without glue or fixings
Product news: British furniture brand Very Good & Proper has started producing this table by Australian designer Henry Wilson, which incorporates his trademark A-Joint. More about A-Joint Table by Henry Wilson for Very Good & Proper
Threads and glue replace joints and screws in the furniture that emerges from a custom-made machine designed by Royal College of Art graduate Anton Alvarez (+ movie). More about The Thread Wrapping Machine by Anton Alvarez
More from Ontwerpduo: Nathan Wierink exhibited a table with decorative joints at the Design Academy Eindhoven graduation show as part of Dutch Design Week, which ended yesterday. More about Joints by Nathan Wierink