Narcissus’ Trinity

Speculative Design

Narcissus' Trinity speculates as a functional furniture in a dysfunctional society, easing the vice of comparison across different levels of beauty standards. It consists of a dressing table which includes two vanity mirrors and a small podium. This furniture allows for two individuals to use it simultaneously as they dress up and adorn themselves on their everyday routine. Besides tempting its users to compare the image reflected on their mirror with the other person getting ready in front of them, the trinity is concluded with the image of an alluring peacock that exposes its feathers as a symbol of unattainable beauty. It ultimately reflects the vice of the modern young adult who is constantly trying to portray an ideal image based on beauty standards that are conveyed in the world around them. 

This piece was produced with three main concepts in mind: vanity, comparison and embellishment, all as representative of Gen Z culture. Its striking yet elegant colours are an allusion to furniture pieces from ancient Indian, Christian and Western European designs which used similar pigments, as well as the image of the peacock, to represent status and pride. Besides, the vast majority of the furniture has been made with recycled pieces, allowing for an exercise of bricolage and adhocism in which a stool and two mirrors serve as the foundation for a third composition: a three user vanity.