Studio Tooj Turns Wood and Reishi into Draped Illusions | Duk

FDT Bureau

Design studio Studio TOOJ unveiled a visually arresting furniture series titled Duk, which challenges perceptions of materiality and form through a surrealist lens. Drawing inspiration from the illusion of draped fabric, the pieces appear soft and flowing but are, in reality, crafted from rigid materials, mainly wood and Reishi, a mycelium-based biomaterial developed by biotech company MycoWorks. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

The word Duk means tablecloth in Swedish, perfectly captures the series’ central theme of visual ambiguity of soft versus solid. Studio TOOJ, founded by creative duo Ashley and Johan Wilen-Jong, debuted the first piece in the series with a floating corner table in December 2024. Building on that concept, they launched a side table and a pedestal in the same style at the recently concluded Milan Design Week 2025. The illusory nature of the pieces lies not just in the choice of material, but in their sculpted form, which mimics the folds and tension of fabric frozen in time.

The Duk collection was born from Ashley Wilen-Jong’s long-standing fascination with surrealism, particularly the dreamlike imagery of Salvador Dali. Initially, the Reishi material was not part of the concept. The Wilen-Jongs began with the idea of sculptural wooden forms that appeared to drape like cloth. However, once they began working with MycoWorks’ innovative material, it quickly became an integral element of the project. Reishi enhanced that illusion further.

Reishi is a leather-like biomaterial grown from the root structure of mushrooms (mycelium) and is MycoWorks’ flagship product. According to the company, the material offers unparalleled design flexibility, as it is lab-grown in a way that allows for customization of its thickness, texture and strength. This level of control gives designers far more freedom than conventional leather, which often requires adapting to the shape and imperfections of natural hide.

The Duk x Reishi collection was exhibited at the Milan flagship store of perfumer Le Labo, where it drew considerable attention. Also on display was Mycelium Paravent, a folding screen made from Reishi by designer Fanny Perrier, highlighting the growing versatility and artistic potential of mycelium-based materials in contemporary furniture design.

Image credit: Felix Speller