The Wood Pleats Collection explores the hidden softness of wood through Didi Ng Wing Yin’s unique carving and brushing technique, transforming solid timber into delicately pleated, textile-like surfaces that invite touch and reflection.
Central to the series is the designer's distinctive carving and brushing technique, which draws out the organic rhythms of the grain and transforms solid timber into pleated, cloth-like surfaces. The result is a surprising material illusion—wood that appears weightless, fluid, and soft.
Each piece in the collection is shaped in dialogue with the natural structure of the wood. In the case of the Pleats Vase, the form directly follows the inner twisting of wood fibers inside a tree trunk. This intuitive process preserves the raw energy within the timber, revealing patterns and movements that are typically hidden from view. Ng’s brushing method further enhances this effect, creating surfaces that are light-responsive, multifaceted, and deeply tactile.
Wood Pleats reflects a meditative and sensory approach to craft. It invites touch, encourages close looking, and reimagines the possibilities of wood as a living, responsive material. These works are both sculptural and functional, balancing visual complexity with a profound respect for the natural character of wood.
At the core of the collection is Ng’s design philosophy of naturalness—a commitment to allowing the material’s inherent qualities to lead the creative process, rather than dominating it through force or control. The pieces in Woodpleats are not just about form, but about listening to the material, responding to its language, and crafting beauty from its unique identity.
Didi Ng Wing Yin (HK/FI) is a wood artist and designer based in Helsinki, originally from Hong Kong. His work focuses on sculptural furniture and crafted objects that explore the natural qualities of wood through carving and experimental surface techniques. Ng holds an MA in Contemporary Design from Aalto University, Finland. He has exhibited across Europe and received international recognition, including awards from the LOEWE Foundation, Dezeen, and the Stockholm Furniture Fair. His practice centers on material sensitivity, intuitive process, and the pursuit of naturalness in design.
