Furniture Design
Industrial Design
Iterative Prototyping
The Reading System
Three objects, one system — the Marshmallow Chair, Diamond Light, and Wonder Bookrest were designed together to improve college students’ posture while reading recreationally, inspired by Karim Rashid’s formal language of soft geometries and vibrant color.
Stylized 3D render of the Marshmallow Chair with ottoman, Diamond Light, and Wonder Bookrest concept
Role
Furniture Design & Fabrication
Timeline
3–5 Weeks
Tools
Cardboard, Foam & Vinyl Fabrication
Method
Two-round iterative prototyping — physical mockups tested for comfort, then refined based on real reading sessions.
My process

From first sketches to a tested, working prototype — the full arc this project moved through.

Grid of ten thumbnail sketches exploring forms for all three objects (process thumbnail)
01
Brainstorm
Explored furniture forms that could adapt to multiple reading positions instead of a single fixed posture. Sketched ten thumbnail concepts across three objects.
Hand-drawn mind map exploring postural problem areas, centered on Bad Posture (process thumbnail)
02
Research
Studied ergonomics research and existing reading furniture to find where comfort typically breaks down over time. Mind-mapped the postural problem areas driving discomfort.
Cardboard cylinder base construction next to a pile of white stuffing (process thumbnail)
03
Prototyping
Built the Marshmallow Chair, Diamond Light, and Wonder Bookrest as physical, usable prototypes, constructed from cardboard, foam, and vinyl.
Pin-up sheet of the Marshmallow Chair shown from four perspectives (process thumbnail)
04
User Testing
Had users read in each prototype for extended periods, noting comfort and posture shifts. Pin-up review from four angles surfaced proportion issues.
The finished trio: Marshmallow Chair with ottoman, Diamond Light, and Wonder Bookrest assembled together (process thumbnail)
05
Iteration
Refined proportions and materials across a second round based on what testers found uncomfortable, bringing all three pieces together as one system.
The problem

Bad posture in college students often stems from the reading environment — chairs without lumbar support, insufficient lighting that causes users to lean forward, and books held low in the lap.

The design question: what can we create to improve college students’ posture while reading a book, and how can we support good posture by creating a relaxing, inviting environment for recreational reading in a private space?

Hand-drawn mind map exploring postural problem areas, centered on Bad Posture
Fig. 1 — Mind map exploring postural problem areas
Ideation

Thumbnail sketches explored the full formal spectrum for all three objects — geometric vs. organic chairs, cloud-like vs. adjustable bookrests, and lamps with sculptural stems and wine-glass–shaped heads.

The Marshmallow Chair (soft, rounded, with ottoman), Diamond Light (geometric vinyl head, flexible copper neck), and Wonder Bookrest (adjustable laptop-stand base with integrated book clip) were selected as a cohesive trio.

Grid of ten thumbnail sketches exploring forms for all three objects
Fig. 2 — Thumbnail sketches for all three objects