We learn so much from visual cues because so much can be said in the absence of words. With the new TAITŌ Poufs by +kouple, the vertices suggest sharpness, but the pouf’s plushness speaks of comfort. Offered in two distinct silhouettes – opposing soft squares connected by a central cylinder – the artful object supports a variety of use cases. Structural height comes without hard edges and refinement without compromise.
Presented this year in Berlin, TAITŌ is derived from a Japanese term (対等) meaning “equivalent” – a word that captures the idea of balancing volumes – exemplified here through forms on either side that appear asymmetrical while remaining grounded, and satisfying.
Designed by Dan Vakhrameyev of +kouple, the studio he co-founded with Kateryna Vakhrameyeva, TAITŌ marks the brand’s first foray into furniture. Known primarily for lighting, the studio asked a simple question: Why just lighting?
The answer took shape as a modernist yet deeply intuitive object – a design that hides nothing, where simplicity is paired with distinct individuality. In an era of veneer and visual trickery, the hand longs for something honest: a shape that is exactly what it claims to be, and makes sense in doing so. This sensibility extends across +kouple’s broader body of work, defined by clarity, restraint, and quiet impact.
Purposefully useful and with such a ubiquitous shape, the sky is the limit in terms of use. The smaller version offers an elevated seat well suited for meditation or moments of pause, while the larger functions comfortably as an ottoman, a low lounge seat, or a soft surface for play. Beneath the surface, a solid internal structure of plywood and high-density fiberboard provides stability and longevity, grounding the sculptural form in thoughtful construction.
Upholstered in a curated palette of Black, Grey, Blue, Coral, Green, and Yellow, the collection is finished in Jungla or Fenice wool textiles – contract-grade fabrics chosen for their durability, tactile warmth, and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification. Custom colors and additional fabrics are available on request, allowing designers to mix hues and textures while maintaining the pouf’s elemental silhouette.
Like us, their power is in their shape, but it exists also in their numbers. Users can scale their collection combining multiple poufs to create a tower or even a room divider that doubles as seating for company. A testament to a well-made object that considers the needs of others, the TAITO Pouf engages within a paradigm of honest design, sure to make sense and stay loved.
To learn more about the TAITŌ Poufs by +kouple, visit pluskouple.com.
Photography by Adnriy Bezuglov.
