This project is featured as part of the D5 Digital Design Week: AI & Sustainability. To learn more, click here.
Designed by Sara Kele and Anna Cserba, MOKO is a manifesto for a slower, more mindful way of living. The designers envision spaces where the simplicity and tranquility of nature are brought indoors, urging us to embrace a harmonious, eco-conscious lifestyle. MOKO represents a paradigm shift in furniture design that combines form, function, and sustainability in a truly thoughtful way.
A guiding philosophy is at the heart of the MOKO collection: “Less is more.” By stripping down unnecessary embellishments and focusing on essential elements, Kele and Cserba have created a range of furniture pieces that embody beauty and functionality, with a key emphasis on environmental sustainability. Rather than relying on conventional upholstery, the designers have chosen coconut fibers, a renewable and biodegradable material, to replace synthetic options like PU foam. This choice reduces environmental impact and highlights the natural beauty of raw materials, showing how sustainability can seamlessly blend with design.
The MOKO Objects
Each piece in the MOKO collection is crafted to slow down and reconnect with nature, offering beauty and purpose. The designers aim to spark conversations about mindful living and the importance of surrounding ourselves with objects that encourage serenity and balance. Here’s a closer look at the thoughtfully designed pieces in the collection:
Bench/Table
The bench/table is a versatile piece that embodies MOKO’s simplicity and functionality core values. It’s the perfect solution for smaller spaces, designed to serve as seating and a coffee table. It’s equipped with a comfortable coconut cushion when used as a bench. As a table, the piece features a flat surface with a lower shelf, offering practical storage space for books, decorative items, or other essentials. The accompanying tray adds even more flexibility, easily moving from one surface to another, enhancing the piece’s functionality.
Chair
The MOKO chair is a dining chair that stands out for its mindful design. The seat is cushioned with coconut fibers, offering both comfort and support. Crafted from coconut sheets, the backrest provides ergonomic support to encourage good dining posture. The chair’s design is complemented by unique joint solutions, making it stackable and easy to store without compromising style. It’s a perfect example of how functionality and environmental consciousness can go hand in hand.
Divider
The largest piece in the MOKO collection is the divider. Made of coconut blocks set within a wooden frame, this piece is a functional room divider and a beautiful work of art. The divider is held together with innovative coconut and wood joints, allowing it to be adjusted to create the desired separation between spaces. Its open design lets light pass through, creating an elegant play of light and shadow that adds to the atmosphere of any room. The divider is a beautiful and practical way to bring a sense of peace and serenity to interior spaces.
Through their use of biodegradable materials, innovative design, and thoughtful functionality, Sara Kele and Anna Cserba have crafted a collection that inspires mindful living in a modern world. With MOKO, furniture becomes a part of a larger conversation about sustainability, simplicity, and the importance of creating spaces that nurture both the body and the soul. Their work was proudly featured in the 360 Design Budapest exhibition, emphasizing the region’s commitment to sustainable and forward-thinking design practices.
Since 2020, the 360 Design Budapest regional design exhibition has evolved into a unique, experience-based design program series in the CEE countries, involving cultural, touristic, and educational institutions, as well as the construction industry and design enterprises.
Header courtesy of 360 Design Budapest.
