London studio SmithMatthias has created a wooden bar stool for British design brand Deadgood featuring a simple structure held together by a visible lap joint that gives the product its name.
The Lap Stool is the second product designed by Jack Smith and Gemma Matthias for Deadgood, following on from the Marra Table the duo created in 2017.

The designers were set a brief to create a stacking wooden stool with a distinctive aesthetic, which the Newcastle upon Tyne-based brand had identified as an underserved niche in the contract furniture market.
"Timber stools exude quality and durability, but often at the expense of reduced utility and high transport costs due to their method of assembly," Deadgood's design director, Vicki Leach told Dezeen. "The Lap Stool bridges that gap and offers commercial projects much more flexibility and functionality, whilst not having to make concessions on using this high-quality, tactile material."

Deadgood approached SmithMatthias for the project because of their reputation for creating straightforward, functional products that celebrate the materials and processes used in their manufacture.
The designers began by sketching out a basic form that they developed through a process of hands-on model making. This eventually culminated in a decision to focus on the lap joint as a key detail in the design.

"Our usual process is to sketch together and get in the workshop to develop ideas," explained Matthias.
"Th...