It’s hard to escape the noise of the world we live in. Our spaces are a reflection of our mind, and most of the time our spaces – like our minds – are noisy and cluttered. Studio Goons want to help their customers to carefully curate the items they own. The ‘M Collection’ was designed to reduce the noise in our homes and office spaces.

Studio Goons began during 2020 in a Paris apartment – when friends began sharing their ideas for better and simpler furniture design. Things spiraled from there and before long Studio Goons was making a name for themselves in the design world. To this day they continue to work in Paris, and have built up a large following on social media.
The name ‘Goons’ comes from the nickname they used to give each other when they were younger. The etymology of the word suggests that something or someone is ‘brutal’ or ‘brutish’ in nature. Despite their name, Studio Goons design philosophy defies definition. In their own words, “Studio Goons doesn’t think of itself as any particular -ism”. So what can we call them, if not minimalism, essentialism or brutalism? We can call them Studio Goons.
The inspiration for Studio Goons’ collections comes from daily life. They ask the questions “What do we need?” “What do we use?” “How do we live?” and from the answers come their furniture designs. Memories play an important role in the design, and Studio Goons often find inspiration tucked away in a long-forgotten memory, just waiting to be found and used in the present day. They would say that their designs are “precisely our taste”. By designing things for their specific tastes and desires, they are able to create very personal and unique furniture pieces which reject the mainstream, while maintaining the human element that makes them usable by anyone. A Studio Goons piece is designed by a human with honest thoughts, emotions, memories, and tastes – not by an AI algorithm that can only simulate these things without any genuine soul.
The most recent capsule collection from Studio Goons is the ‘M Collection’. The pieces in this collection are simple in concept and overall design. They are quiet and avoid being noisy in any given space. There are four pieces: The ‘M Console’, the ‘MM Stool’, the ‘Entry Table’, and the ‘TM Table’. The name ‘M’ comes from the shape of the edge details within the collection.

The ‘M Console’ stands on two legs which display the M shape together with two pieces of plywood stacked on top of one another to make the top. This is finished with a warm varnish which gives the console table a comforting feel. The console table would work perfectly in an apartment entryway or even behind a sofa. The ‘MM Stool’ matches with the ‘M Console’ by also featuring the ‘M’ design in its leg. The alternating stacks of wood which make up the seat come with a licorice or butterscotch cushion – so whether you prefer the sweetness of butterscotch or the harsher anise flavor of licorice you can find the stool to suit your tastes. It also comes without a cushion if you prefer to let the warm wood show itself.
The ‘Entry Column’ is the perfect height to act as a corner table in any room it’s in. It lacks the accordion-style top of the console and stool and favors a flat top surface. The ‘TM Table’ has a simple yet bold design. It presents two thick slabs of solid wood which are stacked together. This stark simplicity allows for personal touches to be added by the user, whether that is a potted plant or a lamp.

All the pieces in the ‘M Collection’ meet one criteria – being simple yet engaging. The shapes came about naturally when the team at Studio Goons began stacking the alternatively cut pieces of wood. This concept came from the refinement of a different process while making components for another collection. Refinement of simple tools and techniques is at the heart of what Studio Goons do with each new piece – the ‘M Collection’ is the latest iteration of that design philosophy. Studio Goons choose not to “misrepresent any material” by adding unnecessary color, and so the beauty of the wood is allowed to shine through the pieces.
Studio Goons have considered themselves lucky to have worked with a range of gallerists who have helped to showcase and market their pieces. This has helped the studio to gain a mass appeal both in the art and furniture spaces. They have no desire for their work to only be enjoyed behind a red velvet rope, and are rapidly increasing their client base all over the world. As they put it, their typical client is someone who is “looking for unique pieces of art with a lasting taste, rather than mass marketed designer furniture that can be sensitive to trends.” This has made Studio Goons’ work popular amongst everyone – from those who seek high quality art to those who desire long lasting design.
Studio Goons rely on hand tools more often than machines. They say “It is important to us that these methods show in the quality and aesthetics of our work.” Their pieces are simply designed, so their tools and methods are simple too. This helps to set their work apart in a world of design where more studios create complicated designs in order to stand out.

Working from an initial idea, the team at Studio Goons will build a series of models, prototypes, and mock-ups which go through numerous edits before they settle on a final production piece. As they both come from backgrounds that rely heavily on process driven design, they need to see the piece come together physically through these edits. The types of materials, tools, and methods which they use change from piece to piece, and which ones they use become clear as they design and redesign.
Studio Goons show no signs of slowing down after a frantic three years of projects and collaborations with numerous galleries and creators. 2023 will be the year that they expand their studio while launching new furniture pieces, another capsule collection, and start on larger scale projects. It will be exciting to watch their continued growth as designers and boundary pushers in their future pieces and collections.