Woud Hibo Hippopotamus - Oak

The Woud Hibo Hippopotamus is basically the most charming desk companion you never knew you needed. Designer Steffen Juul looked at how hippos have this naturally friendly face and figured out how to capture that in solid oak without making it cutesy or childish. The genius detail is how the head tilts to either side, so you can adjust Hibo's expression depending on your mood - sometimes he looks curious, other times contemplative, and occasionally just plain happy to be there. Those deep black inset eyes give him this soulful look that's way more engaging than you'd expect from a wooden sculpture. Available in three sizes from mini (about 3.5 inches long) up to medium (almost 8 inches), so you can choose what fits your space or collect the whole family for this adorable wooden zoo situation.

What makes Hibo really appealing is how he manages to be both decorative and interactive without being gimmicky about it. The matt lacquered oak finish feels substantial and ages well, and the fact that the head detaches and reattaches means you can actually play with changing his expression when you need a quick mental break. He works great alone on a bookshelf or desk, but honestly gets even more interesting when paired with his friends Nunu the Elephant and Rina the Rhinoceros from the same collection - together they create this whole Danish wooden menagerie that brings personality to any room without taking up much space. The craftsmanship is solid enough that this feels like something you'd pass down rather than something that'll break after a few months of handling.

Woud approaches design from Denmark with founders Mia and Torben Koed focusing on pieces that create emotional connections rather than just filling space. Designer Steffen Juul, who's been running his own studio since 1996 after graduating from the Danish Design School, specializes in creating that interaction between object and user - he wants his designs to make people feel something positive every time they see them. The company builds on traditional Danish woodworking while pushing into more contemporary forms, understanding that good decorative objects should enhance daily life through small moments of joy rather than just sitting there looking expensive.