London-based ‘Art Engineer’ Lee J Rowland, designer of the ‘Ripple’ series of tables, was previously an aircraft toolmaker. Rowland now uses the skills he acquired to design some of the most creative and illusory pieces of art, as furniture I’ve seen.
The ‘Ripple’ series of tables is manufactured from chrome plated steel. Hours of carving and polishing with the help of 3-D CNC (computer numerical controlled) machinery have resulted in what looks like droplets of mercury or water bouncing from the surface of the tables.
Rowland is also the designer behind the L.E.D. Watch Table previously seen on Trend Hunter.
3-D Home Surfaces
Mercury Drop "‘Ripple’" Tables by Lee J Rowland
Trend Themes
1. 3-D Printing Furniture - The use of 3-D CNC machinery in furniture manufacturing creates opportunities for designing creative and unique pieces of furniture.
2. Illusionary Furniture Design - Using CNC technology and advanced design skills to create furniture designs that trick the eye presents a new opportunity for creating distinct visual interest in living spaces.
3. Repurposing Traditional Manufacturing Skills - Leveraging traditional manufacturing skills from unrelated fields can yield creative results in the manufacturing of furniture and decor. Opportunities exist to achieve a unique style in other areas of design by tapping into disparate knowledge bases.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - The furniture manufacturing industry can leverage the opportunities present in CNC technology to create increasingly unique pieces that can appeal to broader customer bases.
2. Home Decor and Interior Design - Incorporating pieces like the Ripple series tables by Lee J Rowland into home decor offers interior designers new unique opportunities to enhance creativity in their designs.
3. Manufacturing - The use of this technology highlights opportunities for manufacturers to leverage their unique skillsets to design novelty furniture pieces.