Vanity

The Beauty of Contradiction

VANITY was born from a desire to question a design trend. At the time, contemporary furniture was dominated by monochromatic palettes, clean geometries, and understated minimalism. Black and white had become the universal language of modern interiors. While this aesthetic celebrated simplicity, it also left little room for emotion, surprise, or visual curiosity.

Rather than following this direction, we asked ourselves a different question. Could decoration become an integral part of the design concept instead of simply embellishing the surface?

The answer began with a butterfly.

The project started when FORMICA® introduced Digiform, an innovative manufacturing technology that allowed custom images to be printed and permanently laminated between decorative surfaces and plywood during the forming process. Instead of applying graphics after production, the image became an inseparable part of the material itself.

This new manufacturing process opened an entirely different way of thinking about furniture.

The butterfly was chosen not only for its beauty, but for the contradiction it embodies. From a distance, its vibrant blue wings immediately attract attention, creating an elegant and almost poetic impression. The table naturally invites people to come closer.

Yet as the viewer approaches, that perception begins to change. The intricate anatomy of the butterfly—its textured body, delicate hairs, and organic complexity—reveals an unexpected side of nature. What initially appeared graceful becomes strangely unfamiliar, even unsettling. This subtle shift between attraction and discomfort became the emotional foundation of the project.

The table itself was intentionally designed as a quiet stage for this experience. Its continuous folded form, soft radii, and carefully proportioned curves create a calm architectural presence that allows the printed image to take center stage without overwhelming the object. Every detail was refined to express simplicity, allowing the emotional narrative to emerge through observation rather than form.

VANITY explores how our perception changes with distance, reminding us that beauty is rarely absolute. What first captures our attention can reveal an entirely different character when viewed more closely.

The result is a piece that exists somewhere between furniture, graphic art, and visual storytelling—a functional object that invites curiosity, rewards observation, and encourages people to look beyond their first impression.

Today, VANITY is part of the permanent collection of the Barcelona Design Museum, recognizing its contribution to contemporary furniture design through the innovative integration of material, technology, and narrative.