“Otherworldly” is the first word that springs to mind when looking at Yuxuan Daisy Cao’s Twin Collection. Comprising two bronze chairs and a side table, the seats look as though they have been poured from molten metal, folding outwards into armrests and cascading down into pointed legs. There is something fantastical about the pieces – they could almost belong to the world of Alexander McQueen’s Plato’s Atlantis (2010) or Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979). What’s more, their character can be shaped and transformed through the addition of floral branches, fur cushions or resin that resembles clear, flowing liquid – introducing softer, more organic elements to the burnished bronze. Suddenly, something metallic becomes ethereal, and back again. This interplay – between function and fantasy – is central to Cao’s practice.
The sculptural lounge chairs, named ZO and YU, appear alongside the Piece side table, whose function Cao deliberately leaves undefined. The table can be used as an accent piece or an occasional stool, inviting the user to determine its purpose. This approach speaks directly to one of the central principles of industrial design, which Cao studied at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). The field is all about analysing how people interact with the objects around them and finding new ways to make those environments more functional, aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable. For Cao, however, utility never comes at the expense of experimentation. It’s this approach that has led to her success, including being part of the Emerging Product Design of the Year award-winning team at the International Design Awards (IDA).
Cao took a slightly unconventional route to reach this point. Today, she is an independent multidisciplinary designer working at the intersection of collectible design, human interaction and material experimentation. But she began her time at SCAD studying fashion marketing and management, where she gained hands-on experience in product development, brand building, supply chain management and sustainability. It was only later, through the opportunity to work alongside industrial design students on Tyr – a fully functioning electric concept car – that she discovered another side of her creative practice.
The Twin Collection is the culmination of her various experiences at SCAD. Today, Cao sees furniture as more than something purely functional, using it as a form of sculpture to explore how people, objects and spaces relate to one another. Her practice involves drawing, modelling, making, casting and hand-finishing. Rather than following one set process or working with the same materials every time, each project is led by the idea, process and materials. The resulting pieces interact with their surroundings, shaping the atmosphere of a space and encouraging people to find different ways to use and experience them.
Cao’s story is testament to the power of interdisciplinarity and the benefits of trying new things. Marketing provided an understanding of audiences, products, branding and desirability, whilst industrial design gave her a grasp of form, materials, ergonomics, interaction and function. Together, these disciplines have led to objects that are highly considered, but also theatrical, expressive and desirable. Cao came to SCAD to study the business of fashion, but an unexpected automotive project showed her that she could also be a maker. Now, she is bringing these two worlds together – a reminder that creative careers do not always follow a straight path, and that unexpected turns can open up new possibilities.
The Twin Collection, along with works by other SCAD alumni, is at Design Miami from 1-6 December.
Words: Eleanor Sutherland
Image Credits: Yuxuan Cao, The Twin Collection, (2026). Cast bronze, clay modeling, wax translation hand-finished surface treatment.
