London design and strategy practice behind Wikihouse, 00:/ has launched another open-design initiative with Open Desk. The project’s website functions as a hub to unite those in need of utilitarian furniture with a network of local CNC makers. By providing four degrees of completion – plans, for the experienced carpenter capable of building furniture from scratch; sawn, raw wood cut by CNC machine; flatpack, cut, oiled and ready to be assembled; and built and delivered – the furniture is accessible to anyone both in terms of price and ability.

Initiatives like Open Desk and others like FabHub are quietly transforming furniture design with endless options, stealth localism and a remixed DIY spirit, embodied in projects like Timber. Add to that curveballs in 3D printing – check out Making Guns – and we’re bound to continue seeing rapid innovation at the intersection of furniture design and making in the near future.