Designed for a Second Chance, These Tables Support Women After Incarceration

Design has long held the power to renew and transform, whether it’s upcycling discarded materials, refreshing a living space, or offering someone a much-needed second chance. Incredibly, The Healing Forest Tables, a new limited-edition collection created by Designing Justice + Designing Spaces (DJDS), Formr, and A New Way of Life, does all three. Made from reclaimed wood and built by individuals from historically marginalized communities, each sculptural piece supports women transitioning out of incarceration. It’s a collection rooted in transformation – of materials, of spaces, and, most importantly, of lives.

Premium model \ Photo: Kristen Murakoshi

This collaboration brings together three mission-driven organizations, each with a distinct but deeply aligned purpose. In its mission to end mass incarceration, Designing Justice + Designing Spaces (DJDS) creates spaces that foster community, healing, and restoration. Formr gives both disadvantaged communities and construction remnants a second chance by crafting thoughtfully designed objects. A New Way of Life helps formerly incarcerated women rebuild, offering housing, support, and a stable foundation for reentry. Together, their work merges design, purpose, and impact, channeling the power of craft to uplift people and communities.

A round wooden table with two black cups, a small lit candle, and a green and orange floral arrangement; part of a person is seated on a gray chair nearby

Premium model \ Photo: Kristen Murakoshi

Three elderly women pose together and smile in a decorated event hall with blue tablecloths, balloons, and pink-themed decorations in the background

Women in A New Way of Life program \ Photo: A New Way of Life

A person in overalls and a hoodie holds a wooden project in a workshop, with shelves and various tools visible in the background

The Formr Workshop in San Francisco. \ Photo: Formr

The Healing Forest Tables mark the first launch in The Donation Collection, a new charitable initiative benefitting A New Way of Life. The concept began with DJDS building on insights from a prior collaboration in which they renovated a reentry home alongside A New Way of Life. There, residents and staff envisioned ways to bring nature into the space to support healing and growth. “This collection embodies our collaborative design philosophy, where people impacted by mass incarceration are essential co-creators of the spaces and objects that support healing,” shares Deanna Van Buren, founder of Designing Justice + Designing Spaces. “It’s a beautiful cycle of renewal – from discarded materials finding new purpose, to artisans rebuilding their lives, to women supported through the proceeds. By creating objects that represent growth and resilience, we invite people to bring this powerful symbol of transformation into their homes.”

Two men standing in a workshop hold a rectangular wooden panel made of vertically aligned dark wood pieces; shelves with materials are visible in the background

The Formr Workshop in San Francisco. \ Photo: Formr

A person wearing safety gear uses a power tool to cut metal in a workshop, producing bright sparks that fly across the room

The Formr Workshop in San Francisco. \ Photo: Formr

DJDS then brought in Formr to bring the vision to life. “This first collaboration in our Donation Collection with DJDS and A New Way of Life is deeply personal to what Formr stands for,” said Sasha Plotitsa, founder of Formr. “We’re driven by the belief that transformation can do more – it can give second chances to both people and the planet. By repurposing construction waste into something beautiful and functional, we reduce environmental impact, while our production process creates meaningful job opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged communities. Each piece is a testament to what’s possible when we invest in both sustainability and social equity.”

A man wearing safety glasses and a mask operates a table saw to cut a piece of wood in a workshop

The Formr Workshop in San Francisco. \ Photo: Formr

A small round table with a dark wooden top and four light-colored, unevenly angled wooden legs, set against a plain white background.

Premium model \ Photo: Kristen Murakoshi

There are two tables in the collection: the Premium and the Accessible models. Crafted from reclaimed wood, the Premium table features sculptural, trunk-inspired legs and a tabletop whose edges have been charred to a Shou Sugi Ban finish. The surface top is a striking mosaic, with each piece highlighting the beauty found in the variations of wood grain.

Close-up view of a wooden table base with multiple legs arranged in a geometric pattern, showcasing the natural wood grain and texture

Premium model \ Photo: Kristen Murakoshi

A round woven wooden table with a black notebook, a pen, a small rectangular plant pot, and a glass of amber liquid on top

Premium model \ Photo: Kristen Murakoshi

A round wooden table with black metal hairpin legs holds a green vase with dried flowers, set against a plain white background

Accessible model \ Photo: Kristen Murakoshi

The Accessible model maintains the same dimensions and tabletop design but features sleek, recycled steel hairpin legs, offering a lighter silhouette at a more approachable price point.

Close-up of a geometric arrangement of wooden blocks with varying heights and visible wood grain patterns

Photo: Kristen Murakoshi

While design can be transformative, it’s rare to see it make such direct social impact. By empowering marginalized communities and equipping them with purpose, skill, and support, The Healing Forest Tables prove that good design can be a force for lasting change.

Round wooden tabletop with a geometric, interlocking block pattern, viewed from above against a white background

Photo: Kristen Murakoshi

A man and a woman stand together and smile in an office lobby with glass doors and colorful fabric art on the wall in the background

Formr CEO & Founder Sasha Plotitsa and Designing Justice + Designing Spaces Co-Founder and Executive Director Deanna Van Buren

To learn more about The Healing Forest Table collection, which is available for purchase until June 30, 2025, designed by Designing Justice + Designing Spaces, Formr, and A New Way of Life, visit theformr.com.