Form.bar by Okinlab

Okinlab GmbH is a German company at the intersection of furniture design, digital technology, and traditional craftsmanship. The company was founded in Saarbrücken in late 2013 by architect Nikolas Feth and business economist Alessandro Quaranta. The idea originated from a real-world problem when Quaranta was tasked with furnishing a small, awkwardly shaped shop and found standard furniture unsuitable and custom solutions too expensive. He consulted his old school friend, Feth, who was researching lightweight constructions and digital fabrication in architecture. This collaboration sparked the concept for their core product, form.bar, which launched in 2015.

The company's primary offering is form.bar, a web-based 3D configurator that allows individual consumers and businesses to design their own bespoke furniture, such as shelves, tables, and storage units, without needing any prior design experience. The platform's key feature is its algorithm, inspired by natural swarm behavior, which ensures that any adjustment to one part of the design results in a harmonious, mathematically optimized, and structurally sound final form. As the user modifies the shape, dimensions, and materials, the price is calculated and displayed in real-time, providing complete transparency.

Okinlab's business model is a decentralized production network. Once a customer finalizes a design online, the platform automatically generates the necessary manufacturing data and sends it to a regional partner carpentry workshop close to the customer. This network, comprising over 80 artisan businesses primarily in Germany and expanding across Europe, uses CNC milling machines to produce the unique pieces. This model supports local craftspeople, minimizes transportation distances and environmental impact, and makes custom, high-quality furniture affordable. The company has received numerous accolades, including the KfW Entrepreneurs' Award and being named a top IKT-startup of the year, and has secured funding for European expansion, with notable investors like Professor August-Wilhelm Scheer holding a minority stake.

Keywords: custom furniture, 3D furniture configurator, parametric design, online furniture design, mass customization, decentralized manufacturing, regional carpentry network, bespoke shelving, made-to-measure furniture, CNC furniture, digital fabrication, Okinlab, Nikolas Feth, Alessandro Quaranta, furniture technology, German startup, sustainable furniture, wood furniture design, interior design tool, architecture-inspired furniture