Marketing, Advertising & Innovation | Sydney, Australia.​​

Developing Scalable Furniture Products Through Design Thinking

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Clara modular coffee table by Per La Casa featuring timber structure and glass top designed for small apartments and easy transport.

THE CHALLENGE

Traditional coffee tables were designed for large living rooms, not compact apartments. For people living in small spaces, these tables often became obstacles rather than functional furniture. They took up valuable floor space, were heavy and rigid and offered little flexibility for modern lifestyles. The problem didn’t stop at usage. Conventional coffee tables were also difficult to transport, forcing customers to rely on large delivery vehicles or costly logistics. This created friction in the purchase journey and limited impulse buying, especially for customers who wanted to transport furniture in their own cars.

THE SOLUTION

Leo designed Clara, a modular coffee table developed through a design-thinking approach that put real living conditions first. Made from timber and glass, Clara combined durability with a contemporary aesthetic. Its translucent glass top allowed light to pass through, visually opening up small rooms and creating a more spacious feel. Clara’s key innovation was its multi-component structure. The table could be easily disassembled, stacked and transported in a standard vehicle, reducing delivery friction and improving customer convenience. Once home, the components could be quickly assembled into a functional, elegant coffee table, proving that good design can improve both the product experience and the buying journey.