Multifunctional Boat Rug, Rug and Furniture as a Toy

Somayeh Salehi is more than a name,it’s a brand. An Iranian artist and academic, she specializes in carpet design while also making waves in visual and digital art. Currently, she serves as a faculty member in the Carpet Design department at Arak University’s Art College in Iran.

Driven by innovation, Salehi reimagines traditional Iranian carpets for the modern era, recently expanding her vision into children’s carpet designs. Her work stands out for its creativity and originality, with concepts that resonate with leading global carpet brands. Her influential designs leave a lasting mark on the industry, inspiring new artistic directions.

At the heart of her mission is a desire to reveal the hidden spirit of Iranian women woven into handcrafted carpets—and to translate their silent narratives into a contemporary visual language

“Somiyeh Salehi recently achieved the runner-up position in the A’ Design international competition with her carpet design titled ‘Boat’

Unique Properties:

This product includes a children’s rug and furniture, both designed together from the very beginning. Typically, a children’s rug is designed separately, and furniture is chosen to match it. However, in this product, the furniture is derived from the rug’s design, featuring two wooden benches that evoke the feeling of sitting in a wooden boat, making it seem like a toy.

This handmade product is crafted from natural materials, eco-friendly, unisex, and universal without cultural limited.

Inspiration:

This innovative children’s set merges a Boat design rug with two wooden boat benches, creating a unified play space. Handmade rug from eco-friendly natural materials, the gender-neutral design transcends cultural boundaries. The benches double as imaginative toys while complementing the rug’s playful pattern. Ideal for fostering creativity in any nursery or play area, this sustainable set combines functionality with whimsical charm for global families seeking thoughtful design.”

A children’s carpet can go beyond being just a floor covering and simultaneously incorporate furniture and toys. The design of this carpet is inspired by nature. Nowadays, children live in small apartments, and bringing the feeling of play and fun in nature can evoke a pleasant sensation in them. Riding a boat with a friend and rowing on a beautiful lake with turtles, frogs, blue water lilies, and fish can awaken a sense of familiarity and friendship with nature, as well as respect for it, in children.

Production Technology and Materials:

The carpet in this product is handwoven and considered a handicraft. It is made using natural materials such as wool and cotton, with colors derived from plant-based dyes and completely natural colorants. The furniture, which includes two benches, is made from natural wood, not only to evoke a better sense of nature but also to make it an eco-friendly product that is safe for children’s health.

Operation / Flow / Interaction:

With the help of this product, children can sit on the two benches facing each other, play with lightweight oars, and imagine an adventurous journey on a lake. The patterns on the carpet complement their playful experience, allowing them to feel a more realistic sense of playing in nature. Additionally, the product is designed so that children can easily move the benches themselves, and even without the benches, the carpet’s design remains complete.

Project Duration And Location:

This project began in November 2023 in the city of Arak, Iran, through academic research and studies, and its construction was completed in January 2025 in the same city. The product has not yet been commercialized or displayed anywhere.

Research Abstract:

This research is qualitative and was conducted with the aim of understanding the role of carpets and furniture in addressing children’s psychological and educational needs. Information was gathered through library and online research, as well as observation and interviews. The results showed that the best way to teach children is through play, and concepts such as environmental protection should be taught to children through play.

Additionally, by creatively designing functional items like carpets and furniture, they can also serve as entertainment, reducing the need for extra objects in a child’s room.

The Creative / Research Challenge:

Designing functional products for children that incorporate both play and education, and most importantly, are appealing to both boys and girls, and understandable to children worldwide regardless of language or culture, is challenging. Transforming the traditional view of carpets and innovating furniture designs that emerge from the carpet, while being complementary yet usable separately, requires creativity and a rethinking of design methods in carpets and furniture.