The Cat Cube series is an experimental spatial design inspired by observing the daily behavior of a kitten. While it serves as a playful toy for cats, it goes beyond that purpose. The design features a 40cm cube, a size that comfortably fits a cat and also matches common coffee table seating dimensions. This dual functionality allows the Cat Cube to act not only as a toy but also as a functional piece of home decor. It aims to capture the attention of both cats and their owners, creating a new interactive medium between them.
Cat Cube · Corrugated Paper
The concept for the corrugated paper design originated from a simple cardboard delivery box purchased online. Initially, the kitten loved hiding inside it. When someone approached, the kitten would reach out its paws through openings, playfully pretending to sneak up. This playful interaction inspired a new way to engage with the kitten. More holes were cut into the box, allowing people to tap on the outside while the kitten used sound cues to anticipate the sneak attack. This simple game has always brought joy to the kitten.
Although cardboard boxes are easily accessible and simple, they are usually discarded over time due to their incompatibility with home environments. To address this, the design uses corrugated paper to create a cat toy that retains the playful interaction of cardboard boxes while introducing durability and vitality to living spaces.
The design stacks corrugated cardboard to form a hollow cube, providing space for cats to move inside. Various sized holes connect the interior and exterior, allowing cats to enter, peek, and playfully ambush, while also offering multiple viewing angles for observers. The holes are recessed to enhance outward visibility. Seams in the flat areas add depth and create dynamic light and shadow effects inside. For assembly, perforated metal plates secure rods at both ends, offering an environmentally friendly and easily maintainable alternative to adhesives, enabling quick replacement of the cardboard layers.
Cat Cube · Elastic Fabric
The idea behind the elastic fabric version comes from observing how cats love to hide inside piles of clothes or behind wardrobe doors. This behavior resembles childhood moments of hiding in corners, offering a sense of security and control over the environment, creating delightful moments of surprise when discovered.
Starting from the material itself, the design uses elastic fabric instead of regular non-elastic textiles to create a more dynamic and organic space. Stretching and twisting the fabric produces varied shapes and transparency gradients, depending on the tension applied. The 40cm cube frame holds the fabric in place with gaskets and screws; both are black to enhance the mysterious feeling of the kitten hiding and moving inside.
As the kitten moves and interacts with the cube, the elastic fabric further deforms, enriching the spatial experience. This deformation enhances the perception of the space and invites playful exploration.
Cat Cube · 3D Printing
While the corrugated paper and elastic fabric versions focus on material characteristics, the 3D printed Cat Cube explores technical possibilities. Though 3D printing isn’t commonly seen in everyday products, the technology is mature and widely used in model making and mechanical parts manufacturing. Its high precision allows intricate details, and its unique process enables complex designs that save time and effort. This made 3D printing an ideal choice for this spatial experiment.
The design draws inspiration from cats’ love for moving through small, secure spaces. These confined paths satisfy their curiosity and sense of safety. The challenge was to create multiple spatial transitions within a 40cm cube. After careful consideration, a minimal surface was chosen as the spatial prototype. Minimal surfaces are mathematically rigorous, infinitely extendable forms with complex internal paths despite their simple appearance. Scaling a tiny curved minimal surface to fit the cube, then trimming and refining the facade, resulted in the basic spatial form.
To enhance the texture and showcase 3D printing advantages, a triangular concave-convex pattern was added to the surface. This intricate detail would be extremely difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods, making 3D printing the optimal choice for this design.
Project Information
Project Name: Cat Cube Series
Designer: Du Lei
Contact email: 1174308901@qq.com
Project Design & Year of Completion: May 2022
Creative and Design Team: Du Lei
Project Location: Guangzhou
Photography Copyright: Du Lei
Main Materials: Corrugated paper, stainless steel, elastic fabric, photosensitive resin
Product Dimensions: 400mm × 400mm × 400mm
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