Studio Mau Mau
Works Press
Studio Mau Mau is dedicated to exploring the entanglement between human emotions and design constructs, using the medium of functional objects that are rich with cultural references. Studio Mau Mau relies on a research-driven process, which focuses on spatial contexts, material explorations and aesthetic research. The studio mainly works with wood, metal, textiles, as well as other materials integral to the studio's continuous research.
Studio Mau Mau is the brainchild of Dongzhu Li, who practices in the field of furniture/object design. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Furniture Design from Rhode Island School of Design (USA) and a master's degree in Experimental Design. She believes that objects that we surround ourselves with can carry profound emotional, cultural, and social values--besides their aesthetic and practical appeals.
Studio Mau Mau has previously showcased in numerous international exhibitions and fairs including Milan Design Week (2024), Wanted Design at ICFF in New York (2023), Venice Design Biennial (2023) and BLICKFANG fair (2024) in Stuttgart, Germany. The Studio has also been working on projects funded by foundations such as IKEA Switzerland.

You can reach the studio via info@studiomaumau.com.


























The Thorn Bird ProjectYear:2023
Size: 230*230*260cm
Material: textile, wood, camping poles
Exhibited at the 4th Venice Design Biennial, 2023The Thorn Bird Projects explores the aesthetic possibilities of the concept of “carrying your home with you” when living a nomad lifestyle. It includes home objects referencing the Chinese spatial setting. The Thorn Bird Project addresses such in-between-ness of shifting human and cultures. I challenge the stagnated image of the faux-Chinese architecture and design rooted in western context.
Birdy Tea Set
    Year: 2023 
Material:  “Zitao” clay, glass, aluminum, bamboo Supported by funding from IKEA Switzerland Birdy is a modern tea set designed for easy use/storage. Birdy Tea Set can make the Chinese tea ceremony experience accessible everywhere. It is a lightweight tea set for two, including a tea tray and teaware built with traditional Zitao clay. Birdy preserves all the original elements needed for a tea ceremony, but can be used more conveniently.

Bass CollectionYear:2024, ongoing
Material: MDF
With its geometric silhouettes, the Bass Collection is effortlessly elegant. Bass highlights the intricate play between light and shadow. It transcends the boundary between practical furniture and decors with an artistic touch.

Nirvana Vase
    Year: 2019 
    Material: steel, patina 
    Size: 22*18*5cm
    Exhibited at Milan Design Week in 2024 and 
    ICFF, Wanted Design, New York in 2023
The Nirvana Vase is a testament to the artistry of metalwork, where two steel pieces are meticulously shaped through repetitive hammering and adorned with a unique patina treatment. Visually, Nirvana is full of tension and surprises from every angle--the contrast between the light and the dark pays homage to Chinese ink painting. It presents a harmonious tension between smoothness and ruggedness, intensity and serenity.

Shore BenchYear: 2018
Material: ash, Chinese ink
Size: 120*35*45cm
Exhibited at Wanted Design, ICFF, New York in 2023The Shore Bench draws inspiration from the traditional Chinese peasant bench, which was ingeniously designed for dual occupancy, symbolizing mutual respect and etiquette. This design feature ensured stability when two individuals sit on it, preventing tipping. Its seating surface mimics the contours of a riverbank, organic and subtly changing. The bench encourages tactile interaction, inviting people to explore it’s shifting shape by touch.


Yao CabinetYear: 2019
Material: maple, stain, polyeurathane
Size: 170*28*18cmYao Cabinet is inspired by Chinese medicine cabinet--which consists of many drawers taking up walls of space in Chinese Medicine clinics, requiring trained pharmacists to constantly practice and remember which herb each drawer holds. The traditional medicine cabinet is the product of this hard-working spirit, which is also the essence of many Chinese parents' teaching--for which Yao Cabinet is a metaphor. From top to bottom, every drawer of Yao holds objects I need for my daily routine. Yao Cabinet not only serves the function of housing the daily objects, but also pays homage to my upbringing.
San StoolYear: 2020
Material: bamboo
Size: 50*50*80cmSan Stool is inspired by traditional techniques of bamboo treatments but with a new form--one that has subtle but intricate structure. Designed and built with functionality in mind, San Stool challenges traditional forms of bamboo furniture and provides simple yet smart structural solutions. With the natural flexibility of bamboo, the triangular ring-like joint is make out of one piece of bamboo, that can be closely fitted around the three legs without glue and tightened by simply closing the stretcher.