Revolutionizing Space: Framy, the Customizable Room Divider

Shinnosuke Hosoda's Innovative Solution to Modern Living Challenges

With the ability to customize from any combination of seven panels, Framy is a new type of room divider designed for effective use of limited space. It can fit in every room in a home to suit the user's needs. Whether used as a clothing rack, an organizer, or a room divider for several people working from home, Framy offers flexibility and adaptability. When not in use, it can easily be folded up and stored, making it a practical solution for modern living.

Shinnosuke Hosoda and Kotaro Imai, the design team behind Framy, have utilized Japan's abundant forest resources to manufacture this innovative piece of furniture. Using a type of plywood known as Eco Shira Plywood, sourced from forests thinned in Hokkaido, Japan, Framy is a perfect balance between design and eco-friendliness. The plywood is characterized by high strength and a beautiful cross-section, making it an ideal material for Framy.

Framy's unique properties extend to its interaction and functionality. The seven types of panels that can be integrated into Framy include a hanger, ladder, whiteboard, canvas pockets, mirror, sound absorption board, and peg board. Customers can choose any combination of panels based on their intended use of the piece. The sound absorption panels, for instance, can help diminish distracting noise, making Framy a versatile piece of furniture that caters to various lifestyle needs.

The development of Framy began in March 2021 in Tokyo and was completed in July 2021. It was first sold through a Japanese crowdfunding website in August 2021 and won the Japan Wood Design Award 2021 in October 2021. The design process involved extensive research, including a web survey with 113 participants to understand consumer needs and refine aspects of the design. The result is a highly flexible and adaptable piece of furniture that meets the needs of modern living.

Despite the challenges faced in applying the hook and loop fasteners used to connect the panels, the design team was able to overcome these obstacles to ensure that users can quickly set up the piece. The use of hook and loop fasteners is unprecedented, and a significant amount of time was spent verifying the durability, number, and length of these fasteners. The result is a smooth opening and closing of the divider, offering a high degree of flexibility to the user.

Framy's innovative design and functionality have not gone unnoticed. It was awarded Silver in the A' Furniture Design Award in 2022, a testament to its outstanding design and innovation. Framy is not just a piece of furniture; it is a solution to the challenges of modern living, offering flexibility, adaptability, and infinite possibilities.