This is Oak, the result of an extracurricular, collaborative student workshop at Lund University School of Industrial Design, Sweden. The goal: to explore archetypes and stereotypes in the world of furniture.

The group developed a range of independent pieces, but which are actually impressively coherent. Of course it helps that they're all made from the same single material, American oak.

One of the participaring students, Karl Jönsson, describes how all pieces were stripped down to their origins. From those elements, together with a hint of humor, new pieces have been created, while considering form, usage and interaction with their surroundings.

The icing on their cake: Oak was exhibited during the Milan fair 2011.

[caption id="attachment_13334" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Desk - 'Framework for ideas'"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13295" align="alignnone" width="768" caption="Wardrobe - 'Reflects the character of its user'"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13356" align="alignnone" width="767" caption="Cookie drawer - 'An aid for self-restraint'"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13357" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Side board - 'Defined by space and context'"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13355" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Bench - 'Invites the lonely yet supports the many'."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13345" align="alignnone" width="768" caption="Clock - 'Time flies - clock rocks'"][/caption]