Oh Geon is the latest designer to experiment with unusual materials, using leftover sawdust from a woodworking studio to create this blocky stool.

Aiming to explore the possibilities of discarded materials, the Korean designer created the chair from a combination of leftover walnut and oak chips.

He combined the sawdust with resin before pouring it into a cuboid mould. After the shape set, he peeled off the mould and applied an extra layer of resin on the surface.

Finally, he smoothed the chair through sanding.

"Throughout many experiments, I found out that if the sawdust mixture is accumulated at regular intervals it will form natural layers," said Geon, who is currently studying woodworking and furniture design at Seoul's Hongik University.

"I had to focus the material experiment on the rate of sawdust and resin," he added. "It was very important so it could get the right strength for the structure."

During the process, the designer also noticed the effect different woods had on the colouring and pattern of the chair – something he likens to the earth's layers, or stratum.

"The simple mould gave the best result for the making process, as it gives the strong pattern which seems like earth stratum," he told Dezeen.

"There was no additional or artificial attempt on colouring each unit, it was just separated by species of wood such as walnut and oak."

Designers are increasingly experimenting with unconventional materials, with recent examples including a chair made from from flax, carpets from pine needles and even an ultra-thin condom from grass fibres.

New company Ananas Anam has also turned its attention to the possibilities of agricultural waste, creating a leather alternative from pineapple leaves.