We talked with Senior Umbra Design Lead, Sung wook Park to hear more about his latest design for jewelry and storage - Moona Storage Box. From his inspiration, to challenges the design team faced, read to learn more about this new arrival.
MOONA STORAGE BOX
What was the inspiration behind your design? (ie. time, place, material, other item etc.)
During a business trip in Stockholm, I was visiting a design architectural building. They had this beautiful staircase with continuous curves. It almost appeared as though they were never-ending.
This reminded me of these staircases I've seen before with built-in storage. A clever way of hidden storage.
I decided to combine the soft semi-circle shapes of the beautiful staircase with the idea of built-in storage to create Moona.
What problem (if any) were you trying to solve?
A lot of jewelry boxes on the market are not always both modern and simple looking. I wanted to design something not obvious that was sleek, yet featured a softer look compared to square. It's also important to me, when designing, to create something enjoyable while still remaining functional.
Moona looks nice on display and has real wood material that speaks to its modern and soft design.
Were there any challenges along the way? (ie. material, manufacturing, costing, etc.)
It was important to make sure Moona's drawers didn't spin too fast or too freely. We tried to keep them spinning nicely, while still keeping an element of control.
Mixed materials can also be tricky, as wood has a bigger tolerance issue. Wood always changes depending on different factors - humidity might affect its finish or shape. It might not always come out perfect, so that is something we are constantly monitoring.
What is your favorite part about the product?
My favourite part about Moona is the element of surprise. Once you push a drawer, it starts to create more 3-D shapes; one side of the drawer goes in, while the other comes out. It creates a sense of movement and interactivity.
This element of surprise is similar to our Reflexion and Stowit Jewelry Boxes, with hidden storage or a fun-pop up feature.
What makes this product different/unique/better compared to everything else on the market?
Unlike most jewelry boxes that pull out straight, Moona's drawers push in a semi-circle motion. It creates a fresh way of opening/accessing your jewelry or other storage items.