Product Design
Wwwave
3D Printed Furniture from Plastic Waste
From Garbage to Poetry
The Material Logic
With Wwwave, the material and the manufacturing process are as much a part of the design as the table itself.
The Wwwave table is a custom-made furniture system developed by Groen Boothman, combining 100% post-consumer recycled polypropylene, generative design and large-format 3D printing.
Inspired by fluid dynamics and aerospace engineering, its flowing geometry brings together material efficiency, structural performance and an unconventional approach to furniture design. The continuous shape also encourages a more informal and flexible way of interacting around a table.
Shaped by Systems
The distinctive shape of Wwwave was developed using fluid simulation software originally created for the film industry.
Instead of drawing a conventional table, we explored how simulated flows and natural movement could generate unexpected geometries.
These digital experiments became the starting point for a continuous, wave-like structure, later refined to meet the requirements of manufacturing and everyday use.
The resulting form has no obvious front or back. Its flowing curves create different distances and relationships between people, making it equally suited to informal meetings, conversations and shared spaces.
Structural Logic
Behind the organic appearance lies a structural principle inspired by aircraft construction.
Drawing on our background in aerospace engineering, we developed a cross-section where geometry provides strength without unnecessary material.
By varying the shape of the section, material is concentrated where it contributes most to structural performance. This semi-monocoque approach allows the printed surface itself to carry loads.
The result combines the freedom of generative design with an efficient use of material.
This combination of computational design and structural engineering is also central to our Advanced Concept Design approach.
Made to Order
Wwwave was developed as a configurable furniture system rather than a single fixed design.
Individual segments can be connected to create tables of different lengths and configurations. The flowing geometry can be adjusted to suit a particular space or application.
The components are designed to be demountable and replaceable, allowing the system to be adapted over time.
Combined with large-format 3D printing, this approach makes it possible to produce furniture on demand, without the need for conventional tooling or large inventories.
Presented at Milan Design Week
Wwwave was presented at Masterly, the Dutch design exhibition at Palazzo Francesco Turati, during Milan Design Week 2024.
The table formed the centrepiece of our studio presentation, bringing together our research into recycled materials, computational design and digital manufacturing.
As a physical object, it demonstrated how these different disciplines can lead to new possibilities in furniture design, both technically and aesthetically.
What we did:
Furniture concept design, generative modelling and structural development
Wwwave is an independent research and development project by Groen Boothman, exploring the possibilities of circular materials and digital manufacturing.
We developed the original concept, generated and refined the geometry using fluid simulation, and applied aerospace-inspired structural principles to create an efficient, continuous form.
The project involved material research, computational design, structural development and iterative prototyping for large-format 3D printing in recycled polypropylene.
Wwwave reflects our approach to product development, where form, engineering, materials and manufacturing are considered together from the beginning.
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