Reimagining Foam Waste: The Adaptive Pangolin Series
The Pangolin Series by Jacob Walls is a sculptural furniture collection that reimagines industrial waste. Combining material research with creative construction, the designer explores how discarded materials can serve as the basis for playful and adaptive furniture. The collection is aimed at those seeking new forms of emotional and sustainable design—particularly relevant to interior and furniture designers.
Material innovation meets fashion techniques
Walls draws on dyeing techniques from the fashion industry to create reactive surfaces. He applies thermo-chromic pigments—inks that change colour in response to heat—to foam seating structures. These surfaces shift when touched or exposed to warmth, capturing traces of time, interaction, and environmental conditions. The result is a material that visually reflects human presence, bringing everyday furniture into a more responsive and engaging dimension.
Reclaiming overlooked materials
The core material in this collection is foam offcuts, factory waste that would typically go unused. Rather than hiding this industrial material, Walls uses it as a central design feature. He repurposes it into seating objects that double as sculptural forms. This not only reduces material waste but also challenges the traditional boundaries between function and art.
Adaptable design for evolving spaces
Walls responds to the shifting needs of contemporary living. His designs are not static or purely functional; they are meant to evolve with their environment. The Pangolin Series promotes interaction, emotional connection, and spatial adaptability. These qualities make the project particularly relevant for designers working with compact or multi-use interiors.
Design relevance for multiple disciplines
While primarily suited to furniture and interior design, the Pangolin Series may also inspire fashion, product, and material designers. The integration of cross-disciplinary techniques—especially from fashion—highlights new opportunities for collaboration and sustainable thinking. The project encourages designers to rethink material waste and consider how interactivity can enrich user experience.
Walls’ work is a strong example of circular design in action. It brings new life to discarded materials while offering thoughtful, sensory-driven design solutions for the future of living spaces.
Source & photos: Central Saint Martins / Jacob Walls