O Marks Table is a coffee table that embraces stains, wear and everyday use as part of its aesthetic.
Rather than preserving a perfect surface, it allows marks to accumulate, turning use into a visible record of lived experience.
Year
2026
client
Self Led Project
production scale
One-Off
Category
Furniture Design
Manufacturing methods
Wood-Working | Marquetry | CNC Machining | Plasma Cutting
Materials
Teak | Beech | Yew | Oak | Sycamore | Brass | Mild Steel
The Problem
Domestic objects are typically designed to resist ageing, reinforcing the idea that wear reduces value.
Proposed Solution
To reframe wear as meaningful rather than damaging and to ask if objects can become more valuable through use.
This project builds on research into how perception shifts when users understand the story behind an objec and challenges that assumption by exploring how value is shaped through:
use
time
personal interaction
How Does this work?
As the table is used, everyday interactions begin to leave traces.
A cup placed down, a spill, the movement of objects, each action subtly marking the surface, and the various materials responding in different ways, absorbing, staining, or scratching over time.
Gradually, these marks accumulate and patterns begin to emerge, shaped not by design but by behaviour.
What is typically cleaned away or hidden becomes visible: a record of use, memory, and lived experience.
Development focused on:
testing how materials absorb and retain marks
exploring how stains could feel intentional rather than accidental
translating research on value perception into a physical outcome
Sustainability:
All materials in this table are sustainably sourced. The teak is a repurposed jeweller's bench and repurposed legs, the metal accents (mild steel and brass) are cleaned scraps form the University's metal department, and the wood is locally grown and felled in Scotland by the not-for-profit charity Scottish Wood.
This table embraces aesthetic sustainability, allowing users to develop a connection with the piece over time:
It uses subtle novelty to prevent boredom and creates joyful moments - whether removing coasters to wow guests or savouring a quiet moment of pleasure.
Each mark made during use becomes visible and permanent - a record of the table's story.
If desired, the thick veneer allows users to sand the top layer and re-oil it, restoring it to its original state.
Story