The apple box is a standard tool in film and photo studios, often serving as a simple wooden riser or seat. A new collaboration between the New York design studio Lichen and the Japanese furniture maker Karimoku offers a refined take on this utility object. The brand, CMPT, reimagines the traditional box with premium Japanese Chestnut and precise dovetailed joinery.
While the object maintains its function as a step or stool, the design introduces practical updates for modern workspaces. The cross-section is now square, and a sliding lid allows for internal storage. This feature moves the object beyond its historical use as a temporary prop and gives it a permanent role in organized studio settings.
Designers can link multiple units together to create modular furniture configurations. The boxes connect through their fingerholes, allowing users to build larger structures from the individual units. This product highlights how industrial designers continue to find ways to update established studio equipment with better materials and mechanical utility.