Designed by Richard Sweeney and Liam Hopkins for UK-based design studio Lazerian, The Mensa Collection is one of the most distinctive plywood furniture collection. The collection includes models that use various connecting methods of bolting and self-interlock, and usually consisting of modular, birch plywood components supporting glass tops. With the use of a CNC (computer numerically controlled) router, these models were further advanced to find structural forms capable of supporting weight. From this process emerged a distinctive collection of furniture, which makes use of both raw and laminated birch plywood.
According to Lazerian, the designs emphasize the importance of material to Lazerian, the basis of a design starts with the material itself, and efforts are made to incorporate the unique features of the material into the design, and to fully integrate methods of hand craft with new manufacturing technologies.