In December 2022, we invited our partner — the furniture brand BELSI, known for its modern children's and school furniture — to join the project.

The collaboration was sparked by a practical challenge we encountered while working on one of our educational projects: the market lacked lightweight, convenient stackable beds for kindergartens. Most existing models were heavy and difficult to handle — especially considering that educators must lift and arrange beds daily, often with mattresses, pillows, and blankets already in place. This significantly impacted the ergonomics and spatial organization of the classrooms.

All the stackable wooden beds available on the market were very heavy — it was difficult for educators to lift them. And when you add a mattress, blanket, and pillows, the beds become nearly impossible to move. So we ‘cut out’ everything unnecessary and created our "‎Crab"‎ beds‎‎.

Nadezhda Fedotova, founder of the architectural studio NF

Then we applied a “function-first” design approach, refining the construction in collaboration with BELSI. Special attention was paid to weight — the new model weighs under 7 (and 8) kilograms, making it highly practical for daily use.

After installing the first prototypes in a kindergarten, we received valuable feedback from teachers and children, which helped us further improve the design and functionality. The beds are now ready for mass production as part of the NF × BELSI collaboration.

This project has become a great example of how a user-centered design approach can transform even the most familiar elements — like a child’s bed — making it ergonomic, lightweight, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to use.