Bahar Aryana's Spore Stools Glow When Strangers Share Body Language
Bahar Aryana, a student of industrial design, has introduced Spore, a collection of stools shaped like mushrooms that light up in response to similar body language among nearby individuals. This innovative project, developed at the University of Illinois Chicago, incorporates pressure and capacitive touch sensors to track seating positions, producing a warm glow that aligns with adjacent stools when postures are alike. Drawing inspiration from mycelium networks, Spore reimagines public seating as an interactive platform that nurtures subtle connections without the need for screens or dialogue. The design received Student Notable recognition in the Furniture & Lighting category at the 2026 Core77 Design Awards. Currently, it exists as a prototype, showcasing how furniture can enhance awareness and empathy in crowded urban environments.
Key facts
- Bahar Aryana designed Spore, a series of mushroom-shaped stools.
- Stools use pressure and capacitive touch sensors to detect sitting posture.
- Stools glow and synchronize illumination when nearby strangers share similar body language.
- Project inspired by mycelium, the underground fungal networks connecting trees.
- Developed at the University of Illinois Chicago.
- Spore won Student Notable in Furniture & Lighting at the 2026 Core77 Design Awards.
- The design features rounded silhouettes and semi-transparent shells diffusing LED light.
- The project remains a concept, not yet in production.
Entities
Artists
- Bahar Aryana
Institutions
- University of Illinois Chicago
- Core77 Design Awards
Locations
- Chicago
- United States