Most designers know that the best way to get media and clients on your bad side is to deceive them. Then there’s Veronika Wildgruber – a designer originally from Germany who has lived all over Europe before starting her studio in London – who finds believable trompe-l’oeil the ticket to a bit of foolery.

The Soft Wood Series. Designed by Veronika Wildgruber.

From June 9 – 13, 2010 Wildgruber brought her new series of illusory chairs she calls Soft Wood back to her home country, to the DMY International Design Festival in Berlin, Germany. Although the chairs appear to have thick cushions that are sewn and buttoned, the upholstery is actually made from wood. As Wildgruber states about her latest project, “Soft Wood plays with reality. It shows that you cannot always rely on your perception.”

Apparently she’s not as deceptive as we thought. In fact, she’s actually quite clever. Her idea was indeed to produce a chair that looks plump and cushioned but isn’t (this part is true). However, with faith in the critical mind of her audience, she hopes that the optical illusion she has created will only last a split second. The chair – now understood in its true form – probably seems even stiffer until sitting in it. It’s at this point where Wildgruber proves her point: wood can actually feel soft after all. “At first glance these are simple upholstered stools, but then you see that they are in fact crafted from wood, yet they are still as comfortable as the perceived soft chair,” says the designer.

Wildgruber studied product design at the Faculty of Design and Arts in Bolzano, Italy. After graduation, she moved to Paris, France where she worked to hone her product and interior design skills while working at Studio Robert Stadler, Gabriele Pezzini, and Pierre Charpin.

In the grand world of design, we often take objects seriously. With the playful Soft Wood chair entering the scene, its thought-provoking form and shape is nothing more than a serious breath of fresh air.