When design meets cardboard, a collection of cool stuff made of cardboard

Cardboard is not the most noble material in ordinary people’s minds, but modern designers have learned to overcome this and work with it because it’s a sustainable, strong, and flexible material. In this post we have compiled a collection of awesome designs made of cardboard.

ReCompute: the cardboard computer

ReCompute is the result of Brenden Macaluso’s doctor thesis, a sustainable computer made of cardboard. Macaluso reduced every step needed to build this computer: working hours, material, tools, energy,… The cover components can be uninstalled without tools and are recyclable. The best part, the design of the computer is actually quite nice.

The cardboard highchair

A comfy and safe chair for your little ones. The design looks great, but I can see a couple issues on first look: it takes too much space, and the cardboard is probably not so easy to clean.

The cardboard vacuum cleaner

Design student Jake Tyler built Vax, the first cardboard vacuum cleaner that you can assemble yourself. It’s not for sale yet, but there is a fully functional prototype and production should start soon.

The cardboard radio

This cardboard radio is a FM radio, but it can also be used as a MP3 speaker for your iPod. It is made mostly of recycled cardboard, so it can pretty much be recycled once the product stops working.

The conversation table

A gorgeous coffee table that also acts as a conversation starter. It’s built by Leo Kempf from corrugated cardboard, hardboard, and laminated hardboard spacers.

Cardboard designy bench

A beautiful bench that pushes the limits of what can be made with cardboard. This project is a collaboration between French interior architect Laurine Gauthier, and TonkR.

Refold standing desk

A foldable standing desk made of cardboard that you can take anywhere. Perfect for small homes and freelancers that really want to take the concept of nomad worker further.