ECHOES
Prize(s):
Honorable Mention 2026 PRODUCT DESIGN / Furniture & Lighting
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Eloukou Marie-Pierre Beyela
Design Status:Commercialized
Website: View
Product Description:
Echoes is a creation from a furniture collection inspired by the mortar and pestle, universal objects of culinary design found in many cultures around the world. Starting from this traditional tool, the project explores the transposition of its forms and symbolism into contemporary design. The furniture emerges from a process of stylization and simplification of the mortar and pestle forms. The volumes, the depth of the container, and the verticality of the tool become formal elements that structure the objects. This research results in sculptural furniture pieces that retain visual traces of the original object while embracing a contemporary aesthetic language. The project is also inspired by the memory of the gesture, particularly that of African women pounding food. The rhythm, strength, and movement associated with this action create a cultural and sensory dimension that informs and enriches the design approach.
Echoes is a creation from a furniture collection inspired by the mortar and pestle, universal objects of culinary design found in many cultures around the world. Starting from this traditional tool, the project explores the transposition of its forms and symbolism into contemporary design. The furniture emerges from a process of stylization and simplification of the mortar and pestle forms. The volumes, the depth of the container, and the verticality of the tool become formal elements that structure the objects. This research results in sculptural furniture pieces that retain visual traces of the original object while embracing a contemporary aesthetic language. The project is also inspired by the memory of the gesture, particularly that of African women pounding food. The rhythm, strength, and movement associated with this action create a cultural and sensory dimension that informs and enriches the design approach.
Product Innovation / Specification:
The innovation of the project lies in a process of deconstruction and functional reinterpretation of a traditional object. The mortar and pestle are stylized and reassembled in order to generate new uses within the domestic space. This approach transforms a culinary object into contemporary furniture, shifts its original function toward new applications, and tells, shares, and preserves its story through a more modern presence in different environments. Through this transformation of form and function, the object is no longer limited to use in the kitchen. The forms are intentionally simple, geometric, and sculptural, allowing production in various materials. The project highlights the relationship between object, gesture, and space, preserving recognizable elements of the mortar and pestle while placing them within a new context of use.
The innovation of the project lies in a process of deconstruction and functional reinterpretation of a traditional object. The mortar and pestle are stylized and reassembled in order to generate new uses within the domestic space. This approach transforms a culinary object into contemporary furniture, shifts its original function toward new applications, and tells, shares, and preserves its story through a more modern presence in different environments. Through this transformation of form and function, the object is no longer limited to use in the kitchen. The forms are intentionally simple, geometric, and sculptural, allowing production in various materials. The project highlights the relationship between object, gesture, and space, preserving recognizable elements of the mortar and pestle while placing them within a new context of use.
Product Sustainability Approach:
The sustainability approach of this stool is based on material durability, responsible production, and cultural sustainability.The stool is made from metal with a powder-coated (thermolaquage) finish, a process that is more environmentally responsible than traditional liquid painting. Powder coating produces very little chemical waste, contains no solvents, and emits fewer volatile organic compounds, reducing its environmental impact.The use of metal also ensures durability and longevity. The structure is resistant, recyclable, and designed to last over time, reducing the need for frequent replacement. Its simple construction allows efficient production with minimal material waste. The project also integrates a dimension of cultural sustainability. Inspired by the traditional mortar and pestle, the design reinterprets an ancestral object and preserves its symbolic and cultural value through contemporary furniture. By combining durable materials, responsible finishing techniques, and cultural heritage, the project proposes a sustainable object that connects design, memory, and long-term use.
The sustainability approach of this stool is based on material durability, responsible production, and cultural sustainability.The stool is made from metal with a powder-coated (thermolaquage) finish, a process that is more environmentally responsible than traditional liquid painting. Powder coating produces very little chemical waste, contains no solvents, and emits fewer volatile organic compounds, reducing its environmental impact.The use of metal also ensures durability and longevity. The structure is resistant, recyclable, and designed to last over time, reducing the need for frequent replacement. Its simple construction allows efficient production with minimal material waste. The project also integrates a dimension of cultural sustainability. Inspired by the traditional mortar and pestle, the design reinterprets an ancestral object and preserves its symbolic and cultural value through contemporary furniture. By combining durable materials, responsible finishing techniques, and cultural heritage, the project proposes a sustainable object that connects design, memory, and long-term use.
Local and Regional Impacts of the Product:
This project pays tribute to mortar artisans, highlighting their craftsmanship and the cultural heritage associated with this ancestral object. By transforming the mortar and pestle into contemporary furniture, the project promotes African craftsmanship and encourages the use of “Made in Africa” design, creating a dialogue between tradition and innovation. The stool is designed as a versatile and accessible object suitable for public spaces, schools, workplaces, parks, or domestic interiors, while maintaining a strong cultural identity.The project also promotes the mortar and pestle as a sustainable alternative to electric appliances, encouraging a simple ecological gesture rooted in cultural memory.
This project pays tribute to mortar artisans, highlighting their craftsmanship and the cultural heritage associated with this ancestral object. By transforming the mortar and pestle into contemporary furniture, the project promotes African craftsmanship and encourages the use of “Made in Africa” design, creating a dialogue between tradition and innovation. The stool is designed as a versatile and accessible object suitable for public spaces, schools, workplaces, parks, or domestic interiors, while maintaining a strong cultural identity.The project also promotes the mortar and pestle as a sustainable alternative to electric appliances, encouraging a simple ecological gesture rooted in cultural memory.
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Eloukou Marie-Pierre Beyela
