Our latest Object of Desire is the Puku Ottoman by Kate Stokes of Coco Flip, the winner of our 2013 Emerging Designer Award. Karen McCartney talks to designer Kate Stokes about her design inspiration and her hopes for the Puku family.



You identify with the Swedish word 'lagom' which means (roughly) 'not too much and not too little'. How does that sentiment apply to your work ethos?
We like to take a balanced approach to all things in life & work. I'm most influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese design that isn't loud or showy. I prefer objects to quietly speak for themselves without demanding attention. There is a fine line between something being too intrusive and too timid, and to me it's important that objects strike a balance. They need to be confident, interesting and engaging but not ostentatious, a little like people I suppose.

What role has travel and working abroad played in your development as a designer?
I love to travel and find that it really helps to inspire new ideas. Time spent in Scandinavia has definitely had a big influence on my overall design aesthetic and visiting Japan really helped shape the playful character of the Puku ottoman. Travel has a unique ability to change the way we look at everyday things and helps us gain a new perspective when developing new products or ideas. I recently spent some time in Iceland and that's now having a subtle influence on the design direction and mood of some new pieces.



As a designer you have produced lighting and furniture. Is the Puku ottoman your first venture into upholstered pieces?
Puku is the first upholstered furniture piece that we've released commercially since starting Coco Flip. I experimented with upholstery in my university days, but only in prototypes. It's been a fantastic experience to work with local upholsterers in Melbourne and learn more about the process.

How did the concept come about?
We set out to produce an upholstered product with real character; something cute and playful that people could relate to and enjoy. My love of Miyazaki films and some time spent in Japan had a big influence. We wanted to embody the spirit of Japanese cartoon characters such as Totoro in a piece of upholstered furniture, giving personality and life to an inanimate object.



What does the name mean?
Puku is an affectionate Maori word for a chubby belly. A Kiwi friend mentioned it during the development process and we felt it really captured the mood of Puku – he's a little bit chubby and slow, but cute and loveable.

Quality Kvadrat fabrics are very important to the design delivery. Did you always have them in mind?
We researched a lot of fabrics throughout the process but chose these two Kvadrat fabrics for their quality, texture and colour range. They are incredibly durable and beautiful to touch.



Lovely series of colour combinations – do you have a favourite?
We were very selective with the colours we chose for Puku and feel they all compliment each other well. My personal favourite is the pink top and the light grey base, but they are all suited to different environments.

How do you hope people respond to them and use them?
The Puku ottoman is a great addition to a lounge room, bedroom or kids room and adds a little bit of colour without being too overbearing. They can be used to sit on or put your feet up when you're relaxing, and look great scattered around a coffee table. We hope people respond to them with affection and enjoy their cute, playful character.