STUDENT CHALLENGE: FORBO X ARTEZ

Batch Production of Masks with Furniture Linoleum

The Student Challenge
FORBO FLOORING X ArtEZ

This project celebrates the power of repetition, the beauty of materials, and the collaboration that turns individual ideas into a shared design story.

First-year Product Design students at ArtEZ explore batch production; designing not just one product, but one that can be reproduced, refined, and shared. In collaboration with Forbo Linoleum, they discover what happens when craft meets small-scale industry.

Select one of the tabs above ''Group 1A'' or ''Group 1B'' to learn more about both groups.

From Experiment to Mask

It started with material exploration. Students tested the limits of Furniture linoleum; cutting, folding, shaping, and combining it with other materials to uncover its unique qualities.

From these experiments, each student designed a mask; an expressive object born from hands-on discovery. Alongside, they consider how to reproduce it efficiently: what tools, jigs, or moulds are needed?

By midterm, students present a prototype and a summary of their material process.

Furniture Linoleum

From Prototype to Production

In the second phase, experimentation evolves into production. Each student will batch-produce five identical masks using the tools and systems they have designed.

However, there is a twist: another student will attempt to reproduce one of these masks using only the provided instructions and the given tools.

This peer replication test will reveal how clear, functional and well-designed each mask truly is..

The Pop-Up Shop

At the same time, the class worked together to design and build a pop-up shop — the place where their masks would meet the public.

The students collaborated on every aspect of the shop, from its layout and atmosphere to how guests were invited and how the masks were displayed and sold.

They also considered how to incorporate their creative process and experimental work into the shop’s marketing and storytelling, ensuring that the space reflected their craftsmanship and ideas.

The final result is not just a shop, but a celebration of creativity, materials, and collaboration.
DISCOVER

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about Furniture Linoleum
Group 1A

Step into ‘Le Masque Rouge’ where mystery meets elegance

Our final pop-up presentation brought old Hollywood glamour to life with a bold, theatrical twist. Draped in red silk and velvet, the space exuded luxury and intrigue, while handcrafted masks made from Furniture Linoleum stole the spotlight.

Visitors were immersed in a cinematic experience featuring masquerade postcards, live music, and film projections that revealed behind-the-scenes stories and designer interviews. ‘Le Masque Rouge’ wasn’t just an exhibition — it was a visual and emotional journey celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance.

Le Masque Rouge
Jasmijn

Jasmijn | Within

“My starting point for this project was exploring the balance between sturdiness and flexibility in the material. With this in mind, my experiments naturally led to movements that gave the mask a theatrical quality.

Nature is my greatest source of inspiration, and the final design draws from the image of a beetle opening its wings — revealing a hidden surprise that isn’t visible when closed. To emphasize this element of surprise, I wanted to create a strong contrast between the two states: when closed, the mask has a sleek, almost industrial look, but once it opens, the burst of red inside becomes strikingly vivid.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4023 | nero
4132 | ash
Moni

Moni | LinShang

“This is my really first time working with linoleum, so I faced many challenges at the beginning.

During the material experimentation process, I accidentally created a pattern resembling fish scales by art knife, which eventually became the central theme of my work.

After six rounds of adjustments, I arrived at a mask design featuring a fish head as the main shape and fish scale patterns as the core element in kind of Eastern aestheticstyle.

Generally I’m very passionate to have overcome numerous difficulties and continuously achieved new results and new versions.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4010 | lilac
Merle

Merle | Schlinge

“The idea behind my design is that people often look straight ahead, forgetting to notice their surroundings. While experimenting with linoleum furniture, I discovered that tearing the material revealed a striking contrast, with the black backing paper becoming part of the design.

The irregular shapes and colours added a playful, unexpected quality, and when worn, the mask’s simple construction brings its three-dimensional form to life.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4010 | lilac
4176 | mushroom
4011 | taupe
Jannetje

Jannetje | Crown

“I started this project by researching the material, linoleum, and exploring what kinds of shapes I could make with it. After that, I began designing a lot using paper and 3D design programs. I got inspired by a lamp I saw at the Basketclub. Many people said my design reminded them of a crown, so I also started looking at different crown shapes. After making many designs, I created a version that doesn't need any glue. This makes it circular, because it can be taken apart and reused, which fits very well with the material. To make the mask easier to reproduce, I also made a tool where you can place all the parts and drill the holes in the right spots using a template.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4176 | mushroom
Group 1B

‘Mascata’ shop description

It is already in the name Mascata. Mask – Catalogue.

Today you can order basically anything with just a couple clicks on an online page. But not even that long ago, just before the internet was around, there was a whole different way of shopping from home. Browse through a shop catalogue at your own speed and order via the attached order form.

The idea of the Mascata pop-up shop is to bring back that book-browsing experience, making a human-sized catalogue. You can browse through and find the perfect linoleum mask for you.
Julia

Julia | Burnt Mask

“Experimenting with the material, I discovered some interesting discoloration when using the heat gun in the linoleum. I was intrigued by the gradients and surface texture the material gains, and the contrast between the darkest pieces and the pale, untreated material.

Inspired by the symmetry and patterns of mosaic tiles and woven carpets, I made compositions from the discolored linoleum tiles. By using a jig for the heat gun, and stencils for numbering and cutting the tiles, the mask can be reproduced the same way each time, despite the seemingly uncontrollable nature of the discoloration process.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4176 | mushroom
Maja

Maja | Club 50-50

“50 - 50 Club was inspired by baseball. Focusing on the details of the sports gear—the stitching on the gloves and balls. While working with linoleum, I was reminded of the texture and look of leather, which helped with finding the theme.

The name comes from a baseball term, which refers to a rare achievement where a player hits 50 home runs and steals 50 bases in a single season, tying everything back to the sport.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4008 | brick
4154 | burgundy
Carmen

Carmen | π gon

“π gon is a mask made of a single linoleum-triangle and six wooden sticks. The tool which was used to partly reproduce this mask, was the hole puncher tool.

The tool creates holes which are perfectly placed around the eyes and mouth allowing wooden sticks to be placed inside to mask these areas. Due to the placement of the sticks, the face seems masked even though only few parts are covered.

The triangle is made to frame the face and mould to the shape of the head.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4008 | brick

The Student Challenge

Group 1A

Jasmijn

Moni

Merle

Jannetje

Group 1B

Julia

Maja

Carmen

FORBO FLOORING X ArtEZ

This project celebrates the power of repetition, the beauty of materials, and the collaboration that turns individual ideas into a shared design story.

First-year Product Design students at ArtEZ explore batch production; designing not just one product, but one that can be reproduced, refined, and shared. In collaboration with Forbo Linoleum, they discover what happens when craft meets small-scale industry.

Select one of the tabs above ''Group 1A'' or ''Group 1B'' to learn more about both groups.

From Experiment to Mask

It started with material exploration. Students tested the limits of Furniture linoleum; cutting, folding, shaping, and combining it with other materials to uncover its unique qualities.

From these experiments, each student designed a mask; an expressive object born from hands-on discovery. Alongside, they consider how to reproduce it efficiently: what tools, jigs, or moulds are needed?

By midterm, students present a prototype and a summary of their material process.

Furniture Linoleum

From Prototype to Production

In the second phase, experimentation evolves into production. Each student will batch-produce five identical masks using the tools and systems they have designed.

However, there is a twist: another student will attempt to reproduce one of these masks using only the provided instructions and the given tools.

This peer replication test will reveal how clear, functional and well-designed each mask truly is..

The Pop-Up Shop

At the same time, the class worked together to design and build a pop-up shop — the place where their masks would meet the public.

The students collaborated on every aspect of the shop, from its layout and atmosphere to how guests were invited and how the masks were displayed and sold.

They also considered how to incorporate their creative process and experimental work into the shop’s marketing and storytelling, ensuring that the space reflected their craftsmanship and ideas.

The final result is not just a shop, but a celebration of creativity, materials, and collaboration.

Step into ‘Le Masque Rouge’ where mystery meets elegance

Our final pop-up presentation brought old Hollywood glamour to life with a bold, theatrical twist. Draped in red silk and velvet, the space exuded luxury and intrigue, while handcrafted masks made from Furniture Linoleum stole the spotlight.

Visitors were immersed in a cinematic experience featuring masquerade postcards, live music, and film projections that revealed behind-the-scenes stories and designer interviews. ‘Le Masque Rouge’ wasn’t just an exhibition — it was a visual and emotional journey celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance.

Le Masque Rouge

Jasmijn | Within

“My starting point for this project was exploring the balance between sturdiness and flexibility in the material. With this in mind, my experiments naturally led to movements that gave the mask a theatrical quality.

Nature is my greatest source of inspiration, and the final design draws from the image of a beetle opening its wings — revealing a hidden surprise that isn’t visible when closed. To emphasize this element of surprise, I wanted to create a strong contrast between the two states: when closed, the mask has a sleek, almost industrial look, but once it opens, the burst of red inside becomes strikingly vivid.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4023 | nero
4132 | ash

Moni | LinShang

“This is my really first time working with linoleum, so I faced many challenges at the beginning.

During the material experimentation process, I accidentally created a pattern resembling fish scales by art knife, which eventually became the central theme of my work.

After six rounds of adjustments, I arrived at a mask design featuring a fish head as the main shape and fish scale patterns as the core element in kind of Eastern aestheticstyle.

Generally I’m very passionate to have overcome numerous difficulties and continuously achieved new results and new versions.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4010 | lilac

Merle | Schlinge

“The idea behind my design is that people often look straight ahead, forgetting to notice their surroundings. While experimenting with linoleum furniture, I discovered that tearing the material revealed a striking contrast, with the black backing paper becoming part of the design.

The irregular shapes and colours added a playful, unexpected quality, and when worn, the mask’s simple construction brings its three-dimensional form to life.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4010 | lilac
4176 | mushroom
4011 | taupe

Jannetje | Crown

“I started this project by researching the material, linoleum, and exploring what kinds of shapes I could make with it. After that, I began designing a lot using paper and 3D design programs. I got inspired by a lamp I saw at the Basketclub. Many people said my design reminded them of a crown, so I also started looking at different crown shapes. After making many designs, I created a version that doesn't need any glue. This makes it circular, because it can be taken apart and reused, which fits very well with the material. To make the mask easier to reproduce, I also made a tool where you can place all the parts and drill the holes in the right spots using a template.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4176 | mushroom

‘Mascata’ shop description

It is already in the name Mascata. Mask – Catalogue.

Today you can order basically anything with just a couple clicks on an online page. But not even that long ago, just before the internet was around, there was a whole different way of shopping from home. Browse through a shop catalogue at your own speed and order via the attached order form.

The idea of the Mascata pop-up shop is to bring back that book-browsing experience, making a human-sized catalogue. You can browse through and find the perfect linoleum mask for you.

Julia | Burnt Mask

“Experimenting with the material, I discovered some interesting discoloration when using the heat gun in the linoleum. I was intrigued by the gradients and surface texture the material gains, and the contrast between the darkest pieces and the pale, untreated material.

Inspired by the symmetry and patterns of mosaic tiles and woven carpets, I made compositions from the discolored linoleum tiles. By using a jig for the heat gun, and stencils for numbering and cutting the tiles, the mask can be reproduced the same way each time, despite the seemingly uncontrollable nature of the discoloration process.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4176 | mushroom

Maja | Club 50-50

“50 - 50 Club was inspired by baseball. Focusing on the details of the sports gear—the stitching on the gloves and balls. While working with linoleum, I was reminded of the texture and look of leather, which helped with finding the theme.

The name comes from a baseball term, which refers to a rare achievement where a player hits 50 home runs and steals 50 bases in a single season, tying everything back to the sport.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4008 | brick
4154 | burgundy

Carmen | π gon

“π gon is a mask made of a single linoleum-triangle and six wooden sticks. The tool which was used to partly reproduce this mask, was the hole puncher tool.

The tool creates holes which are perfectly placed around the eyes and mouth allowing wooden sticks to be placed inside to mask these areas. Due to the placement of the sticks, the face seems masked even though only few parts are covered.

The triangle is made to frame the face and mould to the shape of the head.”

Materials used:

Furniture Linoleum
4008 | brick

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STUDENT CHALLENGE: FORBO X ARTEZ

FORBO FLOORING X ArtEZ

From Experiment to Mask

From Prototype to Production

The Pop-Up Shop

DISCOVER

READ MORE

Step into ‘Le Masque Rouge’ where mystery meets elegance

Le Masque Rouge

Jasmijn | Within

Materials used:

Moni | LinShang

Materials used:

Merle | Schlinge

Materials used:

Jannetje | Crown

Materials used:

‘Mascata’ shop description​

Julia | Burnt Mask

Materials used:

Maja | Club 50-50

Materials used:

Carmen | π gon

Materials used:

FORBO FLOORING X ArtEZ

From Experiment to Mask

From Prototype to Production

The Pop-Up Shop

DISCOVER

READ MORE

Step into ‘Le Masque Rouge’ where mystery meets elegance

Le Masque Rouge

Jasmijn | Within

Materials used:

Moni | LinShang

Materials used:

Merle | Schlinge

Materials used:

Jannetje | Crown

Materials used:

‘Mascata’ shop description​

Julia | Burnt Mask

Materials used:

Maja | Club 50-50

Materials used:

Carmen | π gon

Materials used:

‘Mascata’ shop description

‘Mascata’ shop description