Transforming the Ritual of the Letter into Sculptural Design
As handwritten letters quietly disappear from everyday life, designer Maja Stamenković translates the ritual of correspondence into sculptural objective. Named Love Letters ‘M’, the collectible side table repeats the letter M as a three-dimensional form, crowned by a triangular volume inspired by the flap of an open envelope. The project continues Stamenković’s ongoing Love Letters bedside table series, where the drawer previously took the form of an envelope.
In this new iteration, the envelope is removed in geometry and typography: the letter M becomes the structure itself, shifting the series from functional storage furniture to a more sculptural and artistic expression that reflects the tactile and emotional value of handwritten letters. More than a functional side table, Love Letters »M« functions as a sculptural and symbolic object that encourages users to pause and reconnect with slow, tactile gestures in an increasingly digital world.
all images by Marijo Zupanov unless otherwise noted, courtesy of him MA_ST_AR
Seven layers of materials make up the Love Letters »M« side table
The piece from designer Maja Stamenković combines natural, recycled and salvaged materials such as solid walnut, Portogallo Rosso marble, painted aluminium, stainless steel, painted MDF, tiles, Plexiglas and brass. Each layer symbolizes a different generation. the table consists of seven elements representing seven generations, they become a container of memory, continuity and heritage.
First presented at the Venice Design Biennale 2025 as part of the Extinction / Salvation exhibition Collectique, the work reflects how extinction today affects not only ecosystems but also empathy, imagination and cultural rituals. Love Letters »M« was also awarded Silver at the London Design Awards 2025 in the Product Design – Unexpected Design category. The work suggests that everyday objects can function as quiet carriers of memory, meaning and emotional continuity, preserving something of the vanished art of handwritten letters.
walnut, Portogallo Rosso marble, brass, painted aluminum, painted MDF, tiles, plexiglass, painted stainless steel
triangular volume in the form of an envelope, which evokes the familiar act of sending or receiving a letter
seven separate elements, each with its own story
layering of colorful, contrasting materials, forming a harmonious composition
