How can design offer moments of connection within compact living environments?

Degree Project

NEST - Seeking peace, softness, and meaning in limited space

Theresa Babette Podsiadly

Living small has become a common reality for many of us. Whether due to rising rents, student life, or simply the way cities are built today, only a few have the luxury of large spaces and, therefore, the option to separate different moments of the day into multiple rooms. The yoga mat on the floor reminds you to exercise, the brushes on the desk invite you to paint — yet everything happens within the same four walls. When space must serve every purpose, even rest risks becoming another task on the to-do list. Maybe what is missing is not more space, but rather strategies to better organise and define the ones we already have. 

This project sprouts from the thought that I want to explore how design can offer moments of calm and connection within compact living environments. Seating furniture is the familiar archetype that quietly shapes how we experience space, rest, and togetherness. That is why I am interested in researching how this type of object might invite stillness while remaining adaptable and light, finding a balance between functionality and emotional well-being. 

My investigation is dedicated to research, material exploration and prototyping, with the goal of exploring how seating can support both body and mind in small, multi-purpose spaces. With my outcome, I aim to create a sense of softness and retreat, a quiet companion that adapts, embraces, and brings comfort to everyday life, reminding us that even in limited space, there is room for peace.

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Outcome

Nest grew directly out of my own personal experience. Many students live in furnished rooms with little space and furniture that cannot be changed. At the same time, our daily lives are affected by technology like laptops and phones, as well as long hours spent sitting in different places. Nest tries to address this reality with something gentle and flexible. Instead of adding another big object, it adds small pieces that improve the existing furniture.

The project also reminded me that comfort is not only about ergonomics or perfect posture. It is about feeling safe, supported, and able to relax in a space that might only be temporary. By designing something light, movable, and playful, I wanted to create an object that can travel with its owner, respond to new rooms, and “grow” with changing routines.

In the end, Nest is less about inventing a new chair and more about caring for daily moments. It is about finding softness in small spaces, about making temporary homes feel warmer, and about reminding us that even simple objects can shape how we rest, work, and spend time together.

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A project made in the course

Bachelor of Design and Art Laurea / Abschluss 26.1

Graduation projects from the Majors in Design and Art First Session 2026.
More projects by Theresa Babette Podsiadly