Jingwen Gu
BS in Product Design — Product DesignSolace — Side Table
Solace is a side table concept designed with &Tradition in mind. Named for “comfort” and “consolation,” the piece aims to bring a calming, understated presence into everyday living spaces. Drawing inspiration from ancient architectural pillars, Solace reinterprets classical vertical rhythm through a clean, contemporary silhouette. The fluted wooden base expresses quiet strength, while the soft, minimal top creates a sense of purity and visual ease. Together, these elements support a subtle sensory connection with the environment, allowing the table to feel integrated rather than attention-seeking. Solace explores how a small, functional object can carry architectural memory and emotional warmth at a domestic scale.
I began by studying the proportion and rhythm of ancient pillars and translated their vertical language into a compact, contemporary side table. Early sketches and form iterations focused on balancing presence and restraint for an &Tradition-forward aesthetic. I refined the base’s fluted structure to communicate understated strength while keeping the overall volume clean and light. Material and finish decisions emphasized purity and a calm tactile experience, supported by renderings and real-scene evaluation.
This project helped me strengthen my ability to translate architectural references into approachable home-scale objects. I deepened my understanding of proportion, rhythm, and how structural language can express emotion—especially understated strength and calm. I also gained experience shaping a design to align with a specific brand sensibility, refining form and material decisions to create an object that feels clean, cohesive, and integrated within its environment.