Art once imitated life — now, art imitates furniture.

Thanks to innovative designers from all over the world, simple items like chairs and tables can be transformed into useful, modern pieces of art.

“transformation: new international design,” is part of the College of Design’s Silver Anniversary celebration, which features more than 30 international designers and was originally produced by Parsons School of Design in New York City. The exhibit contains 38 pieces of functional household art including tables, chairs, lighting, mirrors and kitchenware.

“What’s exciting about this exhibition is the range of materials that are used — the range of ideas that are present,” says Ingrid Lilligren, associate professor in art and design and exhibitions coordinator for the Silver Anniversary year. “Something that people don’t notice until they’ve been in the exhibit for a while [is that] all the work addresses the home. All the work is intended for the home.”

Japan, Israel, Germany, Sweden, the United States and England are a few of the countries represented by the award-winning designers.

“This was completely pro-bono work in a way. This is kind of a side project … It was out of the sheer desire to do this and to find some really great design, because we knew it was out there,” says Julie Stahl, founding director of JULIE MšLLER STAHL inc., a design marketing and consulting firm in New York, and co-curator of the exhibit. “The primary reason we wanted to do it was because you rarely saw design by women.”

“transformation: new international design” bridges the boundaries between design and simple functional pieces for the household. At the same time, it showcases award-winning talents that just happen to come from women.

“I think [promoting women] was necessary in the ’60s, but now we’re beyond that,” Stahl says. “Women have confidence in themselves.”

“Streol,” by Anette Hermann of Denmark, is a frame made of stainless steel and a gigantic natural rubber band. When a person sits in the piece, the weight pushes the rubber downward and the produced friction creates a chair. Without a person in the object, it is nearly impossible to figure out what purpose the frame would have.

“I’m impressed with the design because the friction of the rubber supports it at the bottom and the top,” said Peter Gaylord, senior in mechanical engineering, after trying out the chair for himself.

Gaylord says though “Streol” is easily moved when empty, the downward pull of a body and the friction of the large rubber band keeps a person of nearly any size from slipping.

“It’s extremely simple, comfortable and functional,” Gaylord says.

“Log Lights,” produced by Nicolette Brunklaus of the Netherlands, uses small hollowed logs to hold light fixtures that sit on the ground. A soft glow emanates from the logs, creating a naturally warm atmosphere.

“The design is excellent. It’s all award-winning, terrific design,” Lilligren says. “The important thing is the way that contemporary designing makes our life more comfortable and also richer.”

The show is not being advertised as being created entirely by women, which Stahl says allows viewers to be impressed with the quality of the work, rather than focus on the gender of the designer.

“I think as soon as you say this is a show of women in design, this is a show of women’s work, it immediately implies that it’s not going to be as good, or that women have a kind of handicap,” Stahl says. “By not saying that, we’re emphasizing that this is about the work, not about the gender. If the work is good enough to receive attention, it will.”

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Who: “transformation: new international design”

Where: Gallery 181, College of Design

When: Open through Nov. 14

Cost: Free