Tom Ducarouge's Utilitarian Pop-Up Furniture for New Balance
Industrial designer creates functional plywood furniture inspired by marathon landscapes.
1Design Concept
Paris-based industrial designer Tom Ducarouge created a series of utilitarian furniture pieces for New Balance's Marseille Running House. The pop-up space was designed to support participants of the Marseille-Cassis half-marathon. The furniture features clean lines and exposed hardware, typical of utilitarian design. Made from 25mm Baltic Birch plywood, the pieces showcase material honesty with visible steel brackets and socket-head cap screws.
2Material Selection
The furniture uses 25mm thick Baltic Birch plywood, known for its durability and clean aesthetic. Metal brackets measuring approximately 3mm thick, likely made of steel or aluminum, provide structural support. Exposed socket-head cap screws add an industrial touch while serving functional purposes. This material combination creates pieces that are both sturdy and visually lightweight.
3Geographical Inspiration
The mountain-like profiles cut into the table legs directly reference the Col de la Gineste. This limestone pass forms part of the marathon route that runners ascend from Marseille and descend toward Cassis. The design literally incorporates the race's topography into the furniture. This creates a strong visual connection between the event and the temporary space.
4Brand Activation
New Balance commissioned the pop-up space as part of their marathon sponsorship. The furniture served both functional needs and brand storytelling purposes. Temporary installations like this create memorable brand experiences. They offer physical touchpoints that standard advertising cannot match.
5Manufacturing Details
The furniture features precise roundover profiles on all plywood edges for safety and comfort. All joinery and hardware remain visible as part of the utilitarian aesthetic. The designs likely used CNC machining for accurate reproduction of the mountain profiles. This manufacturing approach balances cost-efficiency with design integrity for temporary installations.
6Temporary Design Challenges
Pop-up furniture must balance durability with easy disassembly and potential reuse. These pieces were designed for short-term use during the marathon event. However, their sturdy construction suggests possible repurposing in New Balance stores. Temporary designs often face unique material and logistics considerations.
7Industrial Design Trends
Ducarouge's work reflects current preferences for honest material expression. The exposed joinery celebrates rather than hides construction methods. Utilitarian design has gained popularity in commercial spaces for its authenticity. Such approaches work particularly well for athletic brands emphasizing performance.
8Design Impact
This project demonstrates how temporary installations can extend brand narratives physically. The furniture's connection to the marathon route creates deeper engagement. Thoughtful industrial design elevates functional pieces to storytelling devices. Such collaborations blur lines between product design and experiential marketing.
Original article: Core77 — Tom Ducarouge's Utilitarian Pop-Up Furniture for New Balance