Claire Graham
BA Furniture & Product Design
As a designer I find joy in creating unique pieces with my own hands, where I can bring my ideas to life and make something beautiful and functional. I like to experiment with new techniques and materials, but I have a particular interest in woodworking. I follow my ethos of all design should be inherently sustainable, creative, functional and aesthetic, bringing personality to whatever space the product belongs in.
Board Game Storage- The Maze
Board game storage is a gap in the market. Normally, people store board games in spare cupboards or any available space. This cabinet is designed for people who love board games and want to store their growing collection, in a unique and playful way.
My main inspiration came from Japanese puzzle boxes, which require a certain number of steps to open them. My aim was to recreate this traditional game into storage, which has a fun and interactive process- making the cabinet a game.
The marquetry all over the cabinet consists of geometric shapes, which was inspired by abstracting shapes I found in mazes and labyrinths. The hidden magnetic maze that needs to be solved to reveal the cabinet key and unlock to have access to further games is the main element. The mix of wood veneer and the pop of blue show the maze route to be followed, whilst also make the piece stand out and have a fun appearance.
Memento Stones
The stacking stones are unique to you, with the ability to rearrange the stones at any time. The act of rearranging and creating new variations allows you to actively engage with the memento, encouraging memories of the passed loved one to live on. Memento Stones are inspired by the beauty of nature with the colours drawing inspiration from the crystals hidden within the rocks.
The aim is, for any negative emotions of bereavement you may experience, to be relieved by creating an activity that encourages positive communication, by discussing and writing happy memories related to the departed on the paper provided. These core memories can be stored in the holes within the stones, which are hidden when the memento is stacked. This allows you to interact with the memento by removing the stones to read these messages, with the ability to add more at any given time.