Book Monster
by JLF Design Studio · Jersey City, United States

JLF Design Studio is the creative collaboration of designer and maker Minsu Jang and storyteller Soojin Lee. Rooted in a shared belief that furniture can carry more than form—it can carry feeling—the studio blends traditional craftsmanship with imaginative storytelling to create functional works of art. Minsu’s design practice builds on a foundation of time-honored woodworking techniques while embracing modern materials and ideas. His work explores the tension between opposites: solid hardwood and lightweight recycled plastic, tradition and innovation, stillness and movement. With a particular focus on natural materials like plywood and hardwood, he crafts pieces that feel grounded and substantial, yet light and contemporary through the integration of eco-friendly, industrial elements. Trained through hands-on woodworking, Minsu honed his ability to shape, join, and finish wood with precision and care—skills that remain at the core of his practice today. His aesthetic sensibility naturally evolved into a blend of Eastern balance and Western boldness, where curves, movement, and form are central. At the heart of his work lies a recurring question: how can design create beauty that isn’t just seen, but deeply felt? This question comes alive in JLF’s signature approach, often explored through the metaphor of a “monster”—a poetic embodiment of the unseen, the emotional, and the imaginary. Each piece invites not only interaction and function, but also quiet reflection and play. Through this lens, JLF Design Studio creates furniture that acts as more than an object; it becomes a companion to everyday life.