For the third edition of the Muuto Design Contest, the Danish brand is seeking design proposals that bring a new perspective to outdoor accessories and smaller furniture
Muuto is especially interested in ideas that rethink outdoor spaces and explore the transition between indoor and outdoor living. The theme that is being explored this year addresses how design can blur the boundaries between inside and outside – physically, emotionally and sensorially.
The winner of this year’s Muuto Design Contest 002 is Seoul-based designer Kihyun Kim’s project, A Piece of Seating
Muuto is looking for designs grounded in nature – responding to natural surroundings, light, materiality and tactility. The proposal should relate to outdoor or transitional spaces such as terraces, balconies, gardens, courtyards or semi-covered environments, while introducing new perspectives that challenge traditional notions and elevate everyday living.
“We define Scandinavian design as functional, well-crafted pieces with an enduring aesthetic and honest expression – a harmonious blend of form, function, materiality and tactility. Good design should be inviting, intuitively attractive and spark curiosity,” says the brand.
“We seek products that stand out through innovation and offer a tactile experience, creating stronger connections between object and user. Consider how your design impacts the senses – how materials, shapes, colours and space affect emotions and well-being. We want designs that feel intuitive, bringing calm, comfort, and balance while encouraging touch.”
The winner of this year’s Muuto Design Contest 002 is Seoul-based designer Kihyun Kim’s project, A Piece of Seating (APS). The gently curving stool, executed in bent plywood and in many colours, can be a standalone piece or can be combined to create a shared experience of sitting. Kim sees the stool’s design through the lens of the Korean concept of Jeong – a form of shared warmth or connection between people. As more units are introduced, the object’s physical and social functions shift. “Being selected as the winner of the Muuto Design Contest is a meaningful moment for me,” says Kim. “It’s both recognition and encouragement – especially as someone working across disciplines and teaching the next generation of designers.”
The first prize winner will see their piece potentially go into production and receive €5,000 in prize money; two runners-up will receive €2,500 each.
Find our more about the prize here.
Submit your entries here by 12 October 2026.
