The Moomins are the central characters in a series of novels, short stories, picture books, and a comic strip by Swedish-speaking Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson. They are a family of white, round fairy-tale characters who happen to be trolls. The family lives in their house in Moominvalley. They are soft, sweet squishy creatures—and if their house were furnished, it would definitely incorporate some PUCKERUP stools by Lin Zhu.

Furniture designer and SCAD graduate Lin Zhu developed the PUCKERUP Stool series while she was in graduate school earning a master’s in industrial design.

Zhu’s bar stools and ottomans combine wood or steel frames with soft, squishy tops that look like colored marshmallows. They exude comfort and warmth, providing a fairy-tale look to any environment.

Zhu embraces joy and fun in her designs and uses colors to express emotions. Her work is perfect for a fun-loving, congenial family or group of friends.  

The PUCKERUP stool series combines “the charm of the fanciful and the functionality of swivel stools. Through the use and application of wood, metal, and particularly fuzzy fabric, a fantastic chemistry brought to life a new, unique form.”

For more student work, check out Material Opulence by RISD.