Multifunctional Table

Globalisation has changed our reality. The ‘throw away’ culture is a phenomenon that characterises the developed world today and is defined as a product designed to only last a certain amount of time before it either breaks or is obsolete and requires disposal. I created the multifunctional table to address this global problem of high density living and throw-away culture. I learned during the design process that cities are becoming increasingly overpopulated and by spring of 2024 the United Nations predicts earth will have a population of 8 billion. One way to address housing an increasing population is to design compact buildings that maintain the same functionality and practicality of an ordinary home. Because of the decreasing size of housing, conventional furniture cannot fit inside the small space. My design incorporates “Haberdashers Formula”, discovered by the mathematician Henry Ernest Dudeney in 1903. He conceived how to turn a perfect square into an equilateral triangle by dissecting the square into four distinct shapes. Using this formula I was able to create a dining table, entertainment unit, desk, and storage all in one unit. This addresses the throwaway culture issue as the user can transform the table to meet their needs, thus reducing the need to purchase new products.