Playful bubble-inspired stool will give you second thoughts about sitting on it

When you just want to sit down to give your body some respite, the last thing you’d want to see is a chair or bench that looks a little sus. After all, you wouldn’t want to suddenly fall on the ground from an unstable or poorly designed structure. That is why, for the most part, chairs, stools, couches, and benches are designed with forms that exude stability and invite confidence, though you might see a few outliers here and there.

Probably to both amaze and amuse, some furniture is made to evoke the opposite, making you wonder about the unconventional thought processes that led to those designs. Of course, none of these are designed to harm, though you might feel a bit dubious about the end result anyway. This stool, for example, at first glance looks like a smooth metal piece of furniture, but closer inspection would reveal a bubble-like seat that might pop at the slightest touch.

Designer: Studio Ololooo

This still is actually quite mischievous in more ways than one. That powder-coated aluminum appearance? You’d probably be surprised to find out that it’s actually all wood, with the identifying grains masked by silver paint. Even the ring that makes up the seat of the stool is also made out of wood, but if you’ve gotten that far, that will be the least of your surprises.

The Bubble Stool takes its name from the game of blowing bubbles that delights toddlers to no end, at least until the novelty has worn off. Almost like the famous Balloon Dog by Jeff Koons, the four legs of the stool are shaped like cylinders with rounded ends. The aforementioned ring also has a tubular shape that joins the legs almost seamlessly, though you’ll definitely notice those seams if you look hard enough.

The bubbliest part of the stool, however, is the center of the seat itself, made from an inflated thermoplastic polyurethane or TPU airbag. TPU is a material that is known for both its durability and elasticity and is commonly used in protective products like phone cases. Given its transparency, however, this TPU seat cushion will definitely make anyone wonder if it’s safe to sit on it all.

The Bubble Stool inspires both curiosity and playfulness, just like how bubbles themselves capture the imagination of children. With none of the screws visible, you begin to wonder how the stool is even built, especially the TPU airbag that seems to just stick to the ring like magic. Of course, the chair is designed to be sat on, so it takes stability seriously, but it won’t stop you from pausing to reconsider your choice to sit down even for a brief moment.

The post Playful bubble-inspired stool will give you second thoughts about sitting on it first appeared on Yanko Design.