A Chinese Studio Turns the Humble Stool Into a Giant Esc Keycap With Hidden Storage
Dream Research Society, a Chinese product studio, has designed a stool modeled after a large Esc keycap. The seat doubles as a removable lid, revealing a hollow interior for storing shoes, toys, or cables. It is available in transparent, black, and white versions through major Chinese e-commerce platforms.
Dream Research Society, a Chinese product studio, has reimagined the ordinary plastic stool as an oversized Esc keycap. Its tapered shape and white ESC label echo keyboard hardware, while the seat lifts off via a finger notch to expose a hollow compartment. Promotional images suggest storing shoes, cables, toy bricks, books, or plush items.
The product appears in transparent, black, and white bodies with gray lids, sold via major Chinese e-commerce sites. No price, materials, weight capacity, or brand details were available, and there is no confirmed U.S. release. The Esc key itself traces to Bob Bemer’s ASCII work around 1960. Rendered arrow-key variants in clear blue remain unverified.
This novelty may appeal to keyboard enthusiasts, small-space dwellers, and design-minded shoppers who want playful storage. It could encourage more furniture that merges pop-culture references with utility, while remaining a niche import outside China. Because price, materials, and weight limits are unclear, buyers may treat it as decor rather than everyday seating. Its success may depend on pricing, durability, and whether the lid-in-seat compromise proves practical.