Korean designer Juyong Shim has unveiled an innovative project, Horn Series, at this year’s Milan Design Week under the exhibition NEW CRAFTMANSHIP: A NEW WORLD. The collection repurposes obsolete speaker components, transforming them into sculptural furniture that marries functionality with artistic flair.
The Intersection of Sound and Design
The Horn Series explores how the memory of materials can persist beyond their original function. By reimagining the structural logic of speaker horns, Shim breathes new life into industrial sound equipment, elevating it to the status of everyday objects. The collection, which includes stools, tables, shelving units, and lighting fixtures, showcases a creative fusion of sound technology and design.
Speaker horns, frames, and housings form the central visual and structural elements of the furniture, creating a distinct aesthetic. These salvaged components not only provide a unique, industrial look but also contribute to the modular nature of the pieces. For example, one table in the collection can be transformed into a lamp, offering an elegant, space-saving solution for modern living.
Repurposing Materials for New Life
Shim’s approach begins with sourcing unused or surplus speaker parts from suppliers and abandoned inventories. The components are selected based on their material quality and structural integrity, ensuring they retain both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Once sourced, these parts are combined with new materials, such as steel tubing and industrial hardware, to construct the furniture.
The creation process is deeply rooted in sustainable practices. Using minimal interventions, Shim employs techniques such as cutting, welding, bolting, and powder coating, preserving the inherent qualities of the speaker components. The result is a collection that is both environmentally conscious and visually striking.
A Creative Process Rooted in Sustainability
Shim’s work is a testament to the power of repurposing materials in design, highlighting how objects with a past can find new life in unexpected ways. The Horn Series challenges traditional notions of furniture design, pushing the boundaries of what materials can become when given a second chance.
The collection is a bold reflection of Shim’s vision to transform discarded industrial elements into practical, sustainable, and visually compelling pieces. Through Horn Series, he underscores the importance of creative reuse in the design world and invites a dialogue about sustainability and material memory.