Matthew Whatley, a fourth year Product Design student at the KPU Wilson School of Design, is the winner of a SIT Furniture Design Award in the Chair category for Novum Chair, their capstone project which explores bio-based materials as viable alternatives to conventional plastics.
The Novum Chair was made by taking natural woven fibers and reinforcing them with a bio-based resin resulting in a composite layered structural material. The design embodies form, function and an exposed finish allowing a visual explanation of the material composition. The project aim is to bring awareness to plastic over production and alternative methods for future use, as bio-based resins progress they could become a viable option as a plastic replacement material. This was achieved by saturating long cuts of hemp fabric in bio-resin and draping them over an articulated wooden form to make a laminated structure, next top coating the chair with resin then sanding and buffing to finish.
The SIT Furniture Design Award is an international competition that celebrates excellence and innovation in furniture and interior design from professional and emerging designers. Winners are selected by a jury of leading architects, designers, academics, and industry professionals, earning global recognition for their work.
Read more about the SIT Furniture Design Award and project here.
