Keeping a desk neat can be a challenge, especially with small items like paper clips and washi tape scattered around.
Designers Erlend Storsul Opdahl and Milla Eveliina Niskakoski, in collaboration with Kokuyo, have created a clever solution: RAE, a foldable desk organizer made from recycled Campus notebook paper.
It’s sustainable, functional, and a fun DIY project for those who love origami-inspired designs.
What Is RAE?
RAE is a desktop organizer crafted from 50% recycled paper sourced from Kokuyo’s factory scraps. And while we’d all like to see that 50% recycled content increase to 80+%, we must be realistic and practical. 50% is far more than the industry average, which currently sits around 20%.
This design maximizes sustainability while ensuring the material maintains strength and durability.
There’s also a specific use-related reason behind using half recycled materials. The design simply isn’t as strong and durable when the recycled content exceeds 50%.
The choice to mix recycled fibers with virgin material enhances the product’s resistance to wear and tear. Without that strength, the product isn’t practical for everyday use.
When something isn’t durable, it just gets tossed away faster. Consider the catastrophe that is the fast fashion industry.
A Hands-On, DIY Experience
What sets RAE apart is its DIY assembly process.
Instead of coming pre-assembled, the organizer arrives as flat sheets of paper that users fold themselves using simple, origami-style techniques.
This interactive element makes RAE more than just a product—it’s an experience.
The organizers come in two sizes:
- S size (155 x 70 x 30 mm): Perfect for smaller items like paper clips or pins.
- L size (250 x 70 x 30 mm): Ideal for longer items like pens, scissors, or rulers.
The package includes a practice sheet for folding, and for extra help, Kokuyo has uploaded instructional videos on YouTube.
A Minimalist, Eco-Friendly Design
RAE is available in two understated colors—beige and khaki—to complement minimalist workspaces. Despite its simplicity, the organizer is highly functional, offering a sustainable way to declutter your desk without adding to plastic waste.
Using leftover materials from Campus notebooks reduces the environmental impact of Kokuyo’s manufacturing process.
By repurposing what would otherwise be discarded, RAE contributes to the circular economy, aligning with growing demands for eco-friendly products.
Why It Matters
Millions of tons of paper waste are generated globally every year, with much of it either incinerated or left to decompose. Products like RAE provide a meaningful alternative by turning scraps into something useful and long-lasting.
This organizer is also a reminder that sustainable design doesn’t have to sacrifice creativity or functionality. RAE combines practicality with hands-on experience, inviting users to engage with their product in a personal and tactile way.
Designers: Erlend Storsul Opdahl & Milla Niskakoski
Erlend Storsul Opdahl is a Norwegian product and industrial designer, currently living in Finland. Erlend is a Senior Industrial Designer at Edea Design.
Milla Niskakoski is a Finnish product designer based in Salo, Finland.
In early 2021, Milla launched a heavy metal inspired natural cosmetics brand, Kaamos Cosmetics.
