Shanghai-based design studio 8 Hour has released a range of seating, which is inspired by the "changing forms" of a paperclip.

Called Clips, the furniture collection features a bench and two chairs with rounded metal frames and padded seats.

Presented at this year's Design Shanghai, which takes place between 6 and 9 March, the seating series is available in an assortment of bright or contrasting colours.

Available in either a black, grey or electric blue steel frame, and a grey or blue upholstered fabric seat, the collection takes its visual cues from the looped shape of a metal paperclip, conventionally used to hold sheets of paper together.

"Our Clips range is inspired by the changing forms of paperclips and then we have taken that idea through to design new shapes of furniture," 8 Hour designer Sherry Xu told Dezeen.

"We attempted to use our funny imaginations to create interesting senses and joviality through conflicting colours and circuitous lines," Xu continued.

The first item in the collection is the Clips chair, which is available with either a high or low back.

It has a padded, domed seat and a metal frame that makes up both the legs and the back of the chair, which is shaped like a semi-circle.

The bench features a flat, rectangular seat. The legs are formed from lengths of metal tubing soldered to the frame of the seat.

"Clips is an amazing item. Its shape is flexible and very identifiable," said Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts graduate Xu.

The design studio, which focuses on furniture and product design, was founded in 2015 with the intention of creating products inspired by everyday life.

8 Hour is also showing its Jellyfish tables and Mirror Mirror pieces at the fair.

"Our inspiration comes from daily life. We work and live in Shanghai so we are influenced by the diversification and vitality of this city; people, things and the city are merging together," said the studio.

Design Shanghai is taking place this week at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre. Other projects on show include a furniture series made of iridescent, electroplated steel by Buzao.