origami sofa main

Pull-out sofas are typically large, clunky things – not at all like Austrian-born designer Yumi Yoshida‘s origami-inspired transforming sofa.

origami sofa unfolding

origami sofa in progress

The Origami Sofa is made of upholstery panels sandwiched between two layers of fabric – one a bright orange and the other a neutral grey. The color scheme is reminiscent of actual origami paper, which is similarly colored to aid in the folding of intricate shapes.

origami sofa flat

origami sofa packed up

The panels fold just like an origami structure to create the form of a sofa that is strong enough to sit on. As the panels are moved strategically, the structure changes in form and function.

When all of the panels are unfolded and lying flat, the sofa becomes a sturdy rug. While it may not be as useful for overnight guests as a conventional pull-out sofa bed, the Origami Sofa looks to be comfortable enough to nap on – and lovely enough to take center stage in your home.

“Yumi Yoshida was born and raised in Tirol, Austria. After graduating from high school in Austria, she moved to Paris to attend Parsons Paris and the following year relocated to Tokyo, where she was hired as Creative Director in charge of all marketing materials for a small Japanese import company. During the last four years of her time in Tokyo she also worked on a private landscape project as a personal assistant and translator for Wirtz International and Forum Engineering. In 2008, she enrolled at the Rhode Island School of Design to pursue a degree in Furniture Design.”

“Yumi is fascinated with all sorts of mechanisms. Her work mostly revolves around the concept of connectivity and reconfiguration of elements that work within specific systems. During her time at RISD she focused on exploring various materials and experimented with different application methods.”

“After graduating from RISD, Yumi moved to the West Coast. She lives and works in Venice, California.”