Collecting As Table
For my Design 403 studio (Fall 2004, Professors Anthony Caradonna & Francine Monaco), I redefined the concept of a table by examining the definitions of table, yoga, collect, and vortex. By rearranging the parts of these definitions, I developed a new understanding of what a table could be.

Collecting as Table is constructed from a 4’x8’ sheet of laminated neoprene and aluminum. Through lamination, the material gains flexibility and “memory,” allowing it to shift smoothly between positions. The central spine forms a continuous curve, while the planes and edges serve as both tabletop and leg. My goal was to test the limits of the material: how far could it bend, and how well could it retain memory? I also sought to make the design economical, maximizing efficiency and performance from a single sheet.

Using a tab-and-slot system, the piece transforms into three distinct positions: mat, chair, and display. Each position reflects an act of collecting—mat collects people in practice, chair collects readers, and display collects books, magazines, or objects.

This ritual-like sequence of positions ranges from surface to seating, and situates the piece in dialogue with its architectural setting. Placed near the lectern and track lighting, the table interacts with light and space differently depending on orientation and use. Rotation and repositioning against the wall or floor create new spatial relationships, while light projects through the funnel-shaped voids and slots, casting task light both within and around the form.

Ultimately, Collecting as Table becomes both object and environment: a flexible, responsive design that transforms through material memory, spatial arrangement, and human interaction.