Behind the Design of the Arcc® Kids Table & Chair Set

An Interview with our Chief of Product Design, Hanne Willmann

Every child has an inner need to create. We designed the Arcc® Set to provide children a space of their own…a little corner of the world where they can dream, discover, and invent.

Featuring elegant curved lines and sturdy construction, this set is perfectly sized for children beyond toddlerhood. Today, it’s an art studio. Tomorrow, it hosts a tea party. Always their own, this table and chair set offers “an invitation rather than an instruction,” says Piccalio’s Chief of Product Design and award-winning furniture designer, Hanne Willmann.

Read on to learn more about the design process that led to the creation of the Arcc® Kids Table & Chair Set.

Inspiration for a Beautiful Wooden Children’s Table & Chair Set

“We wanted to design this set with a recognizable silhouette that feels approachable and comfortable without compromising our commitment to sustainability and safety,” Aneta Kostic, Piccalio co-founder, shared about the process. 

Working closely as a team, our founders and Wilmann worked together to perfect the design. “The initial inspiration was really the idea of creating something very simple, but with a strong sense of character. The curved back of the chair became the starting point—almost like a small architectural arch or a soft, continuous line. From there, the design developed around that simple gesture,” explained Willmann.

Creating the Arcc® Kids Table & Chair Set: An Interview with Hanne Willmann, Chief of Product Design

We recently interviewed Hanne Willmann to learn more about her design philosophy and process while creating the Arcc® Kids Table & Chair Set. Read the interview below, lightly edited for readability.

Learn more about Hanne Willmann.

Piccalio: Were there specific architectural movements that influenced the design of the Arcc® Set?

Willmann: There is a subtle reference to the warmth and simplicity of 1970s design. I love the way furniture from that era could feel sculptural and considered without feeling overly precious. The Arcc® Set takes a little bit of that feeling, but reduces it down to something very clean and contemporary.

Piccalio: How does your design approach shift when creating pieces for children vs. adults?

Willmann: I think the biggest difference is that you have to be much more aware of how a child actually interacts with a piece. Everything needs to feel intuitive, approachable, and comfortable, while also withstanding everyday use.

Aesthetically, I don't think children's furniture needs to look like children's furniture. I try to give children the same level of consideration I would give to an adult piece—just translated to their scale and needs.

Piccalio: What is your philosophy on how furniture should interact with a room?

Willmann: I generally prefer furniture that doesn't have to shout to have a presence. I like pieces that sit naturally within a room and reveal their character through their proportions, shape, and details.

For me, good furniture should become part of its surroundings rather than compete with them. The Arcc® Set is quiet in that sense. It has a recognizable silhouette, but it doesn't dominate the room.

Piccalio: How did you design the Arcc® Set to bridge the gap between child-friendly function and elegant design?

Willmann: This was actually one of the main ideas behind the set. I wanted it to feel less like a piece of "kids' furniture" and more like a small version of a well-designed piece of furniture.

The proportions, the curved back, the simplicity of the form, and the use of molded wood all help give it that feeling. It has a slightly Scandinavian, retro character, but it's still very relaxed. It doesn't feel formal or precious.
The goal was to make something that a child naturally feels belongs to them, while a parent can genuinely enjoy having in their home.

Piccalio: How did you balance safety and durability with your aesthetic vision?

Willmann: Safety and durability were part of the design from the beginning rather than afterthoughts. The simplicity of the form actually helped. There aren't many unnecessary elements or details—the construction is straightforward and robust.

At the same time, we wanted to avoid making it look heavy or overly utilitarian. The molded wood allows the chair to feel light and refined while still being strong enough for everyday life with children.

Piccalio: What were the most difficult technical considerations for the set? How did you solve them?

Willmann: The molded wood construction was probably one of the biggest technical considerations. We wanted to achieve a very clean, continuous shape, particularly around the curved back, while keeping the proportions light and comfortable.

A lot of the work was in finding the right balance between the radius of the curve, the thickness of the material, and the overall proportions. Small changes in those details can completely change how a chair feels visually.

Piccalio: How did comfort play a role in designing this set?

Willmann: Comfort was important, but we approached it in a very simple way. The chair needed to support a child naturally without adding excessive padding or complexity. The curved back gives a sense of support while also making the chair feel inviting. 

Did knowing colorways and stains would be important elements influence how you approached this set?

Willmann: Yes, definitely. Because the form is so simple, the finish has a strong influence on how the piece feels. We wanted the shape to work equally well in natural wood tones and in more expressive colors.

The simplicity of the design gives the different finishes room to change personality without changing the character of the piece itself. That was important to us—the set should be able to feel warm and natural, playful, or more understated depending on the colorway.

Piccalio: When a child sits down to draw, build, or daydream at the Arcc® Set, what feeling or mindset do you hope your design inspires in them?

Willmann: I hope it gives them a little sense of freedom—a space that belongs entirely to them. A place where they can draw, build, dream, make a mess, invent a world, or simply sit and let their thoughts wander.
I don't think good design should tell a child what to do. It should leave room for possibility. Maybe today the table is a place to draw, tomorrow it becomes an architect's studio, a workshop, a place to build a fort, or simply somewhere to daydream.

Ultimately, I hope the Arcc® Set feels like an invitation rather than an instruction—a small space where there are no rules about what they can imagine.

Discover the Arcc® Kids Table & Chair Set

Beauty belongs in your home. As your child grows, inspire their creativity with Arcc®, a space that’s always their own. A timeless silhouette available in four beautiful colorways, you can mix and match to create the perfect set. 

As with every Piccalio piece, Arcc® exceeds safety standards set out by the U.S. CPSC, ASTM, and California Prop 65. Additionally, we ensure ethical production and use sustainably sourced materials. To protect your indoor air, Arcc® is also Greenguard Gold Certified. 

Discover all of Piccalio’s wooden children’s table and chair sets.