Students from the Central Saint Martins college in London, England worked in tandem with Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to deliver new and updated versions of prison furniture. The idea behind this project is to make life a little bit more comfortable on the inside through minimalist and functional pieces that are also flexible. While the designs of the prison furniture are conceived by the third year students, the inmates will be the ones building the pieces.
The proposed designs — all of which are currently on display in a recreated prison cell, are marked by multifunctionality — from the toilet bowl seat cover that doubles as a leisure chair to the "corrugated cardboard rocking chair that can be used as a low desk and storage unit."
Flexible Prison Furniture
Central Saint Martins Students Provide Designs for the Inmates' Comfort
Trend Themes
1. Flexible Prison Furniture - Creating minimalist, functional, and multifunctional furniture that is both comfortable and easy for inmates to use.
2. Inmate-fabricated Essentials - Empowering prisoners by providing productive activity by having them build their own furniture as part of the rehabilitation process.
3. Green Prison Furniture - Making sustainability a priority in the design process to reduce the environmental impact of prison furniture manufacturing.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture - Opportunity for furniture manufacturers to create minimalist and flexible designs that are multifunctional, comfortable, and easy for inmates to use.
2. Prison and Rehab - Opportunity for organizations working in the prison and rehabilitation industry to innovate in furniture design by facilitating inmate participation in building their own furniture to foster productivity and rehabilitation.
3. Sustainability - Opportunity for eco-friendly furniture companies to design green prison furniture that is sustainable and low-impact on the environment.