Childhood Geometries Are Elevated in the BLOC Collection

It wasn’t that long ago that we shared Caroline Chao’s work in the AAPI exhibition Upon Further Reflection, but she’s on a hot streak! The From: C designer’s inaugural furniture collection, BLOC, includes fives pieces inspired by geometric shapes associated with children’s blocks. It debuted this year at “PLAYSCAPE” at Salone Satellite during Milan Design Week 2023 before going to win big at NYCxDesign 2023. There, the BLOC Collection took home the Emerging/Independent Product Designer 2023 NYCxDesign Award.

Wedge Chair + Cube Chairs

“I wanted to create something both playful and sculptural yet familiar and nostalgic,” says Chao, founder of From: C. “Children’s wooden block sets have shapes that are instantly recognizable, and part of a common experience that many people share. There’s a playful lightheartedness, yet sculptural geometric purity, associated with the shapes that I wanted to celebrate. It brings us back to nostalgia for childhood toys and a lighthearted curiosity as people interact with the pieces.”

Wedge Chair

BLOC draws inspiration from these shapes, with the furniture pieces aptly named the Cube Chair, Wedge Chair, Tri Stool, and Cylinder Lounge and Ottoman (available in large and small variations). Lots of juxtapositions are at play with the materials Chao chose to use throughout the collection. Soft versus hard, solid versus transparent, and textured versus smooth. These elements help to elevate something long familiar to what can be viewed as a more abstract, functional form that’s comfortable.

Wedge Chair

All of the pieces in the BLOC Collection are designed and manufactured locally to the designer in New York, with the majority of the collection also being primarily designer-fabricated. Other suppliers and material fabricators are also kept local through small businesses around the New York area.

Cube Chairs

Cube Chair

Cube Chair

Tri Stool

Tri Stool

Cylinder Lounge + Stacked Ottoman

Cylinder Lounge + Stacked Ottoman

Caroline Chao

To learn more about the BLOC Collection, visit fromc.co.

Photography by Pippa Drummond.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

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