My goal in this project was to design something that would be able to hold my various design instruments--x-acto knife, pen, pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, etc. As I had only a plank of plywood, some wax paper from a local bakery, and some chipboard lying around, I was inspired by the Japanese shoji door to make this pencil box.

The shape of the pencil box mimics the form of a door. Roundness on one end expresses the subtlety of Japanese aesthetic. The entire case is double-backed to strengthen the form. Uneven ends are sanded down, revealing a natural patina.

Perhaps the most important component of this shoji box is the sliding effect of the "doors". I used chipboard as the frames of the sliding door, because it's thinner and sturdier than cardboard, and produces less friction than wood. A variation of paper, it is also a natural material.