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Unorthodox materials, new approaches to forms, experimental techniques – these furniture designers reinvent the conventional stool, giving each piece a distinct personality.

Designed as a response to the pandemic, when the entire world was forced to stay at home, the Balanco set of stackable stools by interdisciplinary design studio Tati Studio offers the users an ingenuous way to find physical and inner balance, while learning to collaborate with others in the process of playing.

The award-winning product is inspired by the pebble towers and consists of a series of multifaceted blocks, providing unlimited possibilities to arrange, position, and stack, creating art in the process.

According to the architects Lisa Lai and Joel Wong who lead the team, the furniture serves as one of the practical yet fun solutions for friends and families to enjoy with one another.

When not being used as toy blocks to create odd rocky totems, the boulder-like stools serve as seats, poufs, or footrests, their varying sizes accommodating the ergonomics and heights for anyone, from young children to adults, and their uneven shape enabling the user to orient them in a multitude of ways.

American and Greek design studio Objects of Common Interest has developed a collection of semi-transparent sculptural stools that produce mesmerizing visual effects when a light beam falls on them. Named Glossy Metamorphic Rock, the enigmatic funiture is comprised of a firm rock formation sitting upon a tray on casters.

The pieces are crafted by pouring soft gel into molds to create solid boulder-like shapes that are both stable and lightweight, and also surprisingly soft to the touch. The glossy semi-translucent stools are available in a number of eye-catching colors, including vibrant lime, purple, and dark blue. Shining in the light like precious stones, the bespoke furniture can truly transform the interior.

Australian designer Alexander Lotersztain has modeled his strikingly minimalist S1 stool on an I-beam, a structural member with an I-shaped cross-section. Developed for furniture brand Derlot, the furniture us manufactured from thermoplastic called low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which means it is fully recyclable at the end of its life.

Just like most other stools, the piece can double as a side table. Besides, it is suitable for both for indoor or outdoor use, which also adds to its functionality and adaptability. The design comes in a range of vibrant colours, as well as in three heights to maximise its versatility.