BE OPEN BLOG

Open-source thinking is no longer limited to lines of code or collaborative software. In the world of furniture design, it’s quietly reshaping how we create, share, and interact with the objects around us. From community-built tables to flat-pack chairs that assemble without a single screw, a new generation of designers is opening up their process encouraging users not just to consume, but to contribute. Instead of buying mass-produced pieces, they are invited to download, adapt, and build their own.

StudioGIB’s Mill Table represents an ongoing exploration into open-source practices within the field of furniture design. Initially developed to meet a practical need within the studio – providing a functional, adaptable table for group work – the project has evolved into a broader examination of how open-source methodologies might apply to architecture and product design. The table is fully documented and released under an open license, allowing others to download, build, and modify it using accessible digital fabrication tools.

The Mill Table’s design is structured around CNC milling processes, specifically tailored for use with a standard three-axis router. Its construction minimizes reliance on proprietary components or specialized tools, instead emphasizing a simplified workflow: parts are milled from two to three sheets of commercial plywood, then assembled using basic hand tools and finishing techniques such as sanding and oiling. This methodology lowers the barrier to fabrication and encourages local production, potentially reducing environmental impact related to shipping and packaging.

In making the design files publicly available along with detailed assembly instructions and multiple base configurations StudioGIB contributes to a growing discourse on collaborative design and knowledge sharing. By situating the project on a platform like GitHub, they also invite iteration and critique from a broader community of designers and makers. Rather than positioning the Mill Table as a static product, the studio treats it as an open framework, an adaptable template that others can revise and contextualize to meet their own spatial or material requirements.

Another standout in this space is Cade Cahalan, whose open-source furniture collection doubles as both a design manifesto and a practical guide to DIY living. Cahalan’s work is rooted in the ethos of accessibility: high-quality, visually coherent furniture pieces that can be built by anyone, anywhere, without specialized equipment. The collection embraces dry-fit joinery and knock-down construction methods, meaning each piece can be assembled in under a minute—no glue, no screws, just smart geometry and precision craftsmanship.

Beyond convenience, Cahalan’s system introduces a philosophy of repairability and modularity. Because each part is replaceable and customizable, users are encouraged to maintain and adapt their furniture rather than discard it. This transforms the act of making into a learning process, fostering both skill-building and long-term thinking. By offering the plans for free, Cahalan positions his furniture as an open invitation to self-sufficiency. Cahalan’s instructions are more than how-to guides; they’re lessons in sustainability, design thinking, and community empowerment.

This vision of shared innovation takes yet another compelling form in the ModusChair, an open-source seating project designed by Arthur Carvalho, based on a 2019 original by Matheus Gouvêa Servare. At first glance, the chair appears deceptively simple, built from just five ribs, a seat, and a backrest. But beneath its minimalist exterior lies a sophisticated design that embraces CNC precision, interlocking joinery, and zero hardware. No screws, nails, or glue are needed.

The ModusChair is as versatile as it is elegant. While its original inspiration was a stair-adapted chair, Carvalho’s reimagining turns it into a modular seating solution that adapts effortlessly to various contexts, from auditoriums to amphitheaters to private homes. Its interlocking construction makes it highly transportable, easy to assemble, and simple to disassemble – qualities that are especially valuable in educational institutions, cultural venues, or nomadic workspaces.

Perhaps its greatest strength, however, lies in its open-source model. By making the design files freely available, Carvalho opens the door to experimentation, customization, and community development. Builders can adapt ModusChair to local materials, scale it for different uses, or remix the geometry entirely. In this way, the chair becomes a vehicle for creativity, education, and sustainability.