The "Hackability of the Stool" (Possibility of modifying the stool), converting Alvar Aalto’s “Stool 60” to 100 different types of products, is a project that adds diverse, niche, and modest functions which have been cut out in the process of designing. This is an assemblage of research and ideas based on mass-produced products, could keep the advantage of modernism and mass-produced products, and produce multi-product in a small lot. You can make a useful and diverse product as easy as possible.

Stool 60, produced by Artek, is simple and beautiful in design, and needless to mention the manufacturing techniques of bent wood technology, every detail is completely designed from distribution to packaging. It is a product that represents the idea of modernism. In addition, mass-produced reproductions are sold for 1,000 yen each by thoroughly considering the cost of production and maintenance, complaints handling, and rationality of transportation. It is cheaper than buying the same amount of wood.

Stool 60 is a masterpiece that everyone has seen before, hence it has the stereotyped shape of "typical stacking stool”. Also, modernist design as represented by Stool 60, is made in the greatest common denominator, not for all-rounders. Keeping it simple can paradoxically cut out so many things. This research started from a question that “Do we need more new designs?.” We chose the "Stool 60" as a masterpiece stool to modify for the following reasons:
・Wooden, and easy to modify.
・Stackable, and easy to store even if the number of the item increases.
・The straightforward design makes it easy to identify the modifications made.
・Many inexpensive imitation products are available, making it easy to conduct case studies and experiments.

We then drew 330 sketches of ideas and actually created 100 chairs. In the process of modifying the stool into many other functions, such as a basket, a lamp, a hanger pipe, and meanings, we were able to gain a perspective on the highly finished Stool 60 in order to view it as unfinished. The concept of completion is also ambiguous. For example, are screws and screws completed? Or does "completion" occur only when a stool is made? It may be possible to say that "completed" is merely a concept that captures things at a certain fixed point.

If so, it should be possible to redefine what is thought to be already completed as an unfinished product, in other words “material.” A further perspective is the question of whether it is possible to design a space or product that encourages people to engage in a variety of activities. In the case of this project, this means whether it is possible to design a hackable platform such as Stool 60. We enjoyed hacking Stool 60 into materials because it was a hackable platform.

Our next interest is whether hackable spaces and products can be designed. We are confident that this interest will provide good feedback for our future project.