ANAK Social Furniture is named after Malay word, Anak, which means children. The design is driven by the issue of plastic toy waste and mangrove forest degradation.

Toys are very susceptible to becoming a ‘waste’ when children lost interest in them. However, do people think about where the toys go when they throw them away and how it will affect the environment? In toy industry perspective, the brands should consider using sustainable polymers and provide services such as repairing damaged toys using 3D printing method and collecting unwanted toys to repair or recycle into new products. The brand can also offer subscription service to the consumers. Instead of selling the toys, the brand can offer 1 year subscription service whereby the new toys will be delivered to the consumers after consumers return the used one every month. In these ways, the public and toy companies are more responsible towards the toys lifespan when they participate in circular economy.

Mangrove forest degradation is another issue which ANAK social furniture which to point out. According to the research, Peninsular Malaysia has lost over 400 km2 of mangrove forests, equivalent to 31% of its original extent between 1944 and 2018. Other than the urbanisation and deforestation factor, plastics waste issue is also contributing to the depletion of mangrove forest. Mangrove plants are depending on aerial roots for respiration, however, the plastics waste are covering their roots and they will die if they cannot outgrow the plastics.

With these issue in mind, ANAK social furniture tries to create conversation of public towards circular economy and in hope that people are more responsible to the waste.  We should treat our environment as if they are our ‘ANAK’, then only it will be a better place to stay.

Design makes difference. I hope my design can bring some impact and connect emotion of the users to the products. In the designing journey, I am actually training myself to be more critical in thinking and problem solving, which is why I think it's important to really LIVE my life. I try to experience everything I can to come out with good design.