"Soft Syntax" by p(erson)al Proposes Flexible Furniture
Using gooseneck parts, Woojin Park’s bendable furniture adapts to user interaction.
Summary
- Seoul studio p(erson)al’s “Soft Syntax” exhibition redefines the gooseneck component, exploring its flexibility/rigidity for responsive furniture design.
- Woojun Park uses this industrial part to create dynamic, user-adaptive objects — reflecting a philosophy of balance and human-centered design.
p(erson)al, the Seoul-based design studio led by Woojin Park, has unveiled a spatial exhibition centering on his “de-goose” project. Titled “Soft Syntax,” the installation of flexible furniture seeks to deconstruct the typical application of the gooseneck, a flexible structural component often used for lighting and industrial equipment.
The designer’s experiment juxtaposes the gooseneck’s dual character of flexibility and rigidity to uncover new forms and functional qualities. In tandem with the inflexible stainless steel frames, the gooseneck components offer a responsive experience to the user. Woojin’s de-goose chair 1 was the inaugural iteration of the concept, using the gooseneck for the curved backrest to adapt fluidly to the user’s body.
As users interact with the furniture—by sitting or leaning into it—the active feedback becomes reflected in the design itself, transforming a static piece of furniture into a dynamic object. The designer’s philosophy expresses a balance between aspects like objectivity and subjectivity, as well as standardization and mutability. Using this perspective as a lens, p(erson)al reinterprets typically industrial materials, translating them into redefined forms and functions that evolve into new objects and spaces.
Function and philosophy aside, p(erson)al’s aesthetic shares in the minimalist language of contemporary South Korean design. Metallic materiality and pared-back forms with a human sensibility characterize not only p(erson)al’s work but that of contemporaries like Sisan Lee and Junho Kang. Much in the spirit of the “Soft Syntax” exhibition, Seoul’s emerging design scene advances human-centered design with a sleek, understated tone.
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