O Marks Table
Furniture Design
Wood-Working | Marquetry | CNC Machining | Plasma Cutting
Teak | Beech | Yew | Oak | Sycamore | Brass | Mild Steel
Self Led Project
One-Off
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.
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.
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.
Design Intention:
To reframe wear as meaningful rather than damaging and to ask if objects can become more valuable through use.
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
This project established a foundation in my practice around value, time and material behaviour.
It showed that:
perception of value can be shifted through design.
objects can act as records of interaction.
imperfection can strengthen emotional attachment.
It also showed that marquetry, while incredibly satisfying, is very time consuming and really brings out my perfectionistic tendencies.
Outcome:
A coffee table composed of varied materials that respond differently to use.
surfaces stain and patinate over time
marks reveal patterns of behaviour
everyday interactions become part of the object’s identity
The table does not hide use but frames it.
