Sara Mellone is an Art and Design graduate at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf. Her graduation project, presented in February 2013, is an award winning furniture series called The Simple Things.

The project comprises pieces of furniture, including a strong, but lightweight bench and two stools made from 2.5 mm sheets of aluminium that have each been folded four times. The simple shape of the double fold creates enough strength to build a bench that is three times longer then the stool.

The white powder-coated version of the folded stool is very durable, therefore it is well protected from fingerprints and scratches. It is reminiscent of simple folded paper and this demonstrates where the inspiration came from. The pieces do not require any assembly and there are no off-cuts.

Sara's approach to design focuses on the simplicity and longevity of the product, by using materials that work in harmony with the design. Though all her products are minimalistic, she always keeps the poetic character of a piece, maintaining the sense of narrative and expression.

This is a very impressive graduation project and I really enjoy the powder-coated stool, particularly. I will certainly be keeping an eye on Sara Mellone's future designs.