"It's been difficult to feel like home when moving so often
-student, 26 y/o
An Unsettled lifestyle
Young adults today are moving more than ever before. Whether it’s for school, work, or personal growth, frequent relocations have become the norm. In fact, nearly half of people aged 25–34 have moved within the past two years (Zillow, 2019)
Scope
A major issue in todays furniture industry is that it follows a linear life feeding into fast furniture culture. And one of the reasons for this is according to xxx that furniture is not built to last.
Scope
A major issue in todays furniture industry is that it follows a linear life feeding into fast furniture culture. And one of the reasons for this is according to xxx that furniture is not built to last.
Scope
A major issue in todays furniture industry is that it follows a linear life feeding into fast furniture culture. And one of the reasons for this is according to xxx that furniture is not built to last.
Unsustainable furniture practices
A mobile lifestyle brings with it a unique challenge: living in the present. Today’s furniture industry is built on the expectation of permanence, with pieces that are not designed to move.
This is feeding into an even bigger issue: a furniture industry that parallels fast fashion in its environmental and ethical issues.
Scope
A major issue in todays furniture industry is that it follows a linear life feeding into fast furniture culture. And one of the reasons for this is according to xxx that furniture is not built to last.
Scope
A major issue in todays furniture industry is that it follows a linear life feeding into fast furniture culture. And one of the reasons for this is according to xxx that furniture is not built to last.
Scope
A major issue in todays furniture industry is that it follows a linear life feeding into fast furniture culture. And one of the reasons for this is according to xxx that furniture is not built to last.
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How can furniture adapt to the evolving realities of a mobile lifestyle?
Barriers and Implications
To better understand the challenges of this lifestyle, I spoke with seven students and conducted a survey with 37 responses.
Over 90% of the participants has moved atleast three times for their studies.
"Moving with my sofa has caused a lot of trouble
-Female student, 25 y/o
"Moving with my sofa has caused a lot of trouble
-Female student, 25 y/o
"I want to be able to move independently
-Male student, 27 y/o
Lack of furnishing creates the feeling of putting life on hold
Furniture often requiers non-accessible transportation options
Small interchanchable places makes planning difficult
—————>
Temporary living calls for long term thinking
A modular sofa designed for an unsettled lifestyle
From assembled to packed / construction ->
Sustainability through circular designprinciples,
materials, mobile structure, and emotional longevety, supporting long time use across time and users.
Use flow ->
Mobile structure
Shaped to support long-term use in temporary settings. The design is adapted for easy transport in various ways, making it accessible to a wide range of users. By following the user through different spaces, it can build a lasting emotional connection strengthening care and extending the life of the piece.
When it’s time to move on or if you want to update, repair, or restore your piece it can be returned to the Maker
Adapting to different spaces ->
Emotional Longevety
By strengthening the emotional connection between user and prouct, the lifespan of the piece can be prolonged.
The design connects with the user on three levels
Viceral / Aesthetic expression of longevety, with color options to match personal preferences
Behavioral / Designed for mobility and adaptability to new spaces
Reflective / Carries personal meaning, memories, and values over time
Building instructions ->
Moving with Nomadic Nest ->
Process ->
Inspiration "the true nomad"
Prototyping and testing
Ideation Workshop
Immersive interviewing
Exhibition
Reflections and learnings
During this project, one of my greatest assets was my classmates. Being able to support one another and exchange constant feedback helped push each of us further into the work.
I also greatly enjoyed working with tangible materials, from sketching interview insights together with participants to exploring and testing form through extensive prototyping.
+Prototyping +Product Design
Nomadic Nest: Sustainable furniture for an unsettled lifestyle
Nomadic Nest is my thesis project in Industrial Design, in
which I explore a key issue in today’s furniture industry: most furniture is ill-suited to a mobile lifestyle, making everyday living impractical while reinforcing linear and unsustainable consumption.
Through this project, I explore how furniture can better adapt to mobile living by encouraging more sustainable use, both emotionally and practically.
Have a look at my three minute pitch from UID talks 25 ->
2025 / 9 weeks / Solo project / Industrial Design
In collaboration with
2025
Contact
© Alma Bülow