Core77

For years I've told myself, ''I Don't Wanna Grow Up!'' And every year, the inevitable seems even more daunting. What happens when we, as adults, turn to our childhood for inspiration?

HDK (The School of Design and Crafts at Goteborg University) put this challenge before their students, and created a slew of products that reflect the different phases of growing up. The results premiered at the Stockholm Furniture Fair in February. Now, as a part of THAT'S DESIGN!, a collective of 20 design schools from 12 different countries, HDK is sending 4 designers to present 7 of their inner-child inspired designs at this year's Salone del Mobile in Milan, Italy (April 18 - 23) - a program called GROW UP!

The designs from the first edition, like the beautifully constructed CEO (Legos) Desk, have morphed into works that combine adult sensibility with a great sense of imagination! Take Grass, for example. It's a chair that uses 25 Styrofoam tubes as the seat -- the same ones you used to clobber your sister at the pool. If you're worried that the extra pounds you've put will make sitting on this spongy seat difficult, you can place it in your office, and strip the chair of its tubes whenever you get the urge to beat the crap out of your work mate.

Check out the GROW UP! project gallery on HDK's site.