Durable Cardboard Stool with Lightweight, Sturdy Design

This innovative stool, created by the design studio Q Designers led by Riki Watanabe, is crafted entirely from cardboard yet built for impressive strength. Despite its robust load-bearing capacity as a chair, it’s so lightweight that children can play with it like building blocks.
Made from recyclable cardboard reinforced by a precision folding structure, the stool gained attention at launch for supporting “the weight of an elephant with just four stools.” No glue is required—assembly is simple with only mountain folds, valley folds, and interlocking tabs. It can also be disassembled and folded flat for compact storage.
Ideal for public spaces, workshops, and even kindergartens, its surface can be drawn or painted on, making it a favorite where creativity and sustainability are valued.

Good Design Long Life Design Award 2021 Winner

The Riki Stool was originally designed in 1965, the year after the Tokyo Olympics, for a special exhibition by Fujingaho magazine. At a time when Japan was entering a high-growth era—marked by the 1964 launch of the Tokaido Shinkansen, the 1965 debut of the first home microwave oven, and the rapid spread of color televisions—the creation of a cardboard stool seemed almost radical.
Riki Watanabe appeared to anticipate the future long before eco-friendly design was a priority. The stool’s remarkable strength defies expectations: the low model supports up to 740 kg (1,630 lbs) and the high model up to 650 kg (1,430 lbs), far exceeding the 100–200 kg range typical of office chairs.
Watanabe challenged the notion that paper is weak, envisioning a material that not only bears weight but also records life’s marks—since paper can be drawn on and naturally shows traces of use. These lived-in markings become part of the stool’s story, requiring no “updates,” which may explain why the Riki Stool continues to be cherished today.