A Cycle of Renewal Through Design
A remarkable partnership is redefining what it means to blend craftsmanship, sustainability, and social justice. At the heart of this initiative lies a simple yet striking piece of furniture—a handcrafted end table that symbolizes hope, healing, and new beginnings for people impacted by the prison system. The project brings together Designing Justice + Designing Spaces (DJDS), a pioneering design and architecture firm advocating for alternatives to mass incarceration; Formr, a San Francisco-based woodshop that employs marginalized artisans; and A New Way of Life, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting formerly-incarcerated women as they rebuild their lives.
This initiative goes far beyond furniture retail—it creates a virtuous cycle where discarded urban materials become elegant home pieces, people with criminal records find dignified employment, and the proceeds return to empower women leaving prison. “It’s a beautiful cycle of renewal—from discarded materials finding new purpose, to artisans rebuilding their lives, to women supported through the proceeds,” said Deanna Van Buren, founder and executive director of DJDS.
Design Born Inside Prison Walls
Van Buren, who trained as an architect and urban designer, has long used her expertise to advocate for restorative spaces. Her organization, DJDS, hosts participatory design workshops within prisons to ensure that those who have lived through incarceration have a voice in imagining environments that foster successful reentry into society.
For this table project, DJDS consulted directly with incarcerated women to develop a concept that reflects both functional elegance and the emotional depth of their experience. “This collection embodies our collaborative design philosophy, where people impacted by mass incarceration are essential co-creators of the spaces and objects that support healing,” Van Buren emphasized in a recent statement.
Craftsmanship with a Purpose
Once the design was finalized, it found its physical form in the capable hands of Formr’s team. Formr is not just any furniture studio—it is a mission-driven workshop employing people who have experienced incarceration, homelessness, gang affiliation, or military service. Each artisan is part of an ecosystem that values second chances for both materials and human lives.
All Formr products are crafted using reclaimed wood salvaged from condemned urban trees, demolition sites, and leftover construction materials—giving forgotten timber a stunning new life. This Japanese-inspired end table is no exception. Available in two variations, the Premium model ($795) measures 22 inches in diameter and height and is finished with the Shou Sugi Ban method, an ancient Japanese technique that chars the wood to produce a dramatic black sheen while preserving and highlighting the wood grain beneath.
For those who prefer a lighter, more accessible version, the Accessible model ($495) features the same tabletop dimensions but swaps traditional wooden legs for sleek, recycled steel hairpin supports. Each table is treated not only as furniture but as a work of art—signed, numbered, and branded with the marks of DJDS, Formr, and A New Way of Life.
Profit With Impact
What makes this project particularly compelling is how it redistributes its profits for maximum social benefit. A New Way of Life, the third pillar of this collaboration, receives 55% of all profits generated from each table sale. The organization, founded by civil rights advocate Susan Burton, has spent over two decades providing housing, legal support, and community resources for women transitioning out of prison.
For many women, the barriers after incarceration can be just as harsh as the sentence itself. Safe housing, employment, and community acceptance remain formidable hurdles. Burton’s nonprofit works to change that by helping women secure stable housing, find jobs, and reintegrate as empowered community members. The revenue from each table helps sustain this mission.
A Symbol of Resilience in the Home
Beyond its financial impact, the table serves as a conversation piece—an embodiment of resilience and restorative justice. Van Buren sees each table as a portal for dialogue in people’s homes about the broader issues of mass incarceration and societal reentry. “By creating objects that represent growth and resilience, we invite people to bring this powerful symbol of transformation into their homes,” she said.
Indeed, owning one of these tables means participating in a deeper narrative—where design becomes a tool for systemic change. Buyers are not merely adding a stylish accent to their living room; they are contributing to a movement that values human potential and the redemptive power of community support.
A Blueprint for Other Industries
This partnership sets an inspiring precedent for what industries can achieve when they fuse sustainability, social equity, and thoughtful design. It invites consumers, artisans, and nonprofit leaders alike to imagine products not merely as goods but as catalysts for human transformation.
As the conversation around prison reform grows louder, collaborative projects like this table underscore the importance of including voices from within prison walls and the need for opportunities on the outside. It demonstrates that meaningful reentry support can be integrated into the very fabric of everyday life—one beautifully crafted table at a time.
Through initiatives like these, discarded materials and marginalized lives alike find new meaning. In an era where sustainability and social justice are no longer optional, this table is more than furniture—it is a testament to what is possible when design and dignity go hand in hand.
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