tom ducarouge’s heat-reactive table for on running changes color

reactive table for on running switches shade WITH heat

Tom Ducarouge creates a heat-reactive table for On Running that reveals a deeper brown color as it gets warmer. The designer shapes the two-part desk as the sportswear brand’s logo, resulting in a rounded table for the first and a U-shaped one for the second. Circular stools around On Running’s heat-reactive table accommodate users, colored in the same shade as the worktop.

The Paris-based designer has forged the two-part table from raw brown steel, retaining the unpolished and unpainted look of the material. Because of this, the design gives off an industrial look, which complements the soft-looking surroundings that the table inhabits.

all images courtesy of Tom Ducarouge and Starkman & Associates

THE MAKING OF Tom Ducarouge’S HEAT-REACTIVE SURFACES

To protect the heat-reactive table, Tom Ducarouge applies a clear varnish, thin and see-through enough to shield the surface from corrosion and wear while keeping the materiality at the same time. This coating allows the changes in the color, too, so when users put something hot on the surface, say a cup of coffee or a warm plate, the brown steel becomes even lusher, like a dark copper. As the designer shared through two videos on Instagram, the table’s shade shifting is almost instantaneous, inviting users to play around and even ‘paint’ on it for a brief amount of time.

Once it cools down, which is also quite quick, the heat-reactive table’s color returns to its original shade. Even the stools are heat-sensitive since they’re made with the same material as the table. Then, under the surface, the design adds a built-in lighting system, which gives off a soft and warm glow. These are battery-powered, so there are no wires or need for plugs, and once they light up, they highlight the distinctive shape of the project. For the heat-reactive table for On Running, Tom Ducarouge collaborated with the production company Starkmann, and so far, the project is a tailored one for the sportswear brand, presented to selected invites during Paris Haute Couture Week 2025 between July 7th and 10th.

Tom Ducarouge creates a heat-reactive table for On Running