Soli Cathair by João Demele is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Duais Umha A' Design Award in Dealbhadh Àirneis Competition Category.

UmhaÀirneis· 2026

Soli Cathair

by João Demele

Client: Morada Decor

Duais Umha A' Design Award Winner in Àirneis Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #176791

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Soli Cathair

'S e cathair a th' ann an Soli a chaidh a dhealbhadh airson suidhe làitheil. Tha an dealbhadh a' cothromachadh eirgeonamachd, aotromachd lèirsinneach agus mionaideachd structarail. Tha an structar fiodha chruaidh air a dhèanamh de fhiodh Jequitiba ath-choillteachaidh a chaidh fhaighinn gu cùramach, le eadar-ghluasadan rèidh agus leantainneach eadar na casan, an suidheachan agus an taic-droma. Tha an taic-droma lùbte còmhdaichte le leathar agus a' stiùireadh suidheachadh a' chuirp gun uidheam atharrachaidh sam bith. Tha lùban anatomach agus foam àrd-choileanaidh a' toirt seachad comhfhurtachd. Tha inneal-obrachadh gnìomhachasail a' dèanamh cinnteach à mionaideachd, agus tha crìochnachadh làimhe fo smachd a' gleidheadh ionracas an stuth agus a sheasmhachd.

The Recognition

About the Duais Umha A' Design Award

Tha Soli Cathair air Duais Umha A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh gu math urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean sònraichte a tha air an comharrachadh le cruthachalachd, innleachd agus geurchuis. Tha buannaichean Umha nan obraichean gu math sgileil agus gu sònraichte cruthachail a dhearbhas eòlas farsaing, mac-meanmna agus tapachd an luchd-dealbhaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi Soli Cathair na nì air a bheil mòran meas, ion-mholta agus gràdhach, a tha gu sònraichte proifeiseanta agus ùr-ghnàthach. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Umha A' Design Award a' cur nan cleachdaidhean as fheàrr ann an ealain, saidheans, dealbhadh agus teicneolas an gnìomh, agus tha e sàr-mhath airson an aire do mhion-fhiosrachadh. Bidh Soli Cathair a' sàsachadh fheumalachdan gu h-iongantach, a' suathadh ri miannan, a' tàladh faireachdainnean agus a' togail fiosrachd.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The chair explores the balance between ergonomics visual lightness and structural precision resulting in a contemporary piece with sculptural presence. Its solid wood structure features smooth and continuous transitions between legs seat and backrest highlighting craftsmanship and technical mastery. The curved leather upholstered backrest gently supports the body while precise stitching and hand finishing reinforce material integrity and the uniqueness of each piece.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width: 560 mm x Depth: 600 mm x Height: 840 mm. Height Seat: 460 mm.
Tags: Wooden chair, Sustainable design, Ergonomic chair, Contemporary furniture, Organic curves, Eco-friendly materials, Brazilian Furniture, Brazilian Culture.
Production Technology: The chair production is guided by sustainability and industrial efficiency. It uses responsibly sourced reforested Jequitiba wood and components designed to reduce waste throughout manufacturing. The seat incorporates curves that adapt to human anatomy combined with high performance foam for comfort and support. Industrial machining ensures precision and repeatability while controlled manual finishing preserves material integrity and durability.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was balancing ergonomics and form. Developing a continuous curved backrest capable of adapting to different bodies required extensive research, testing, and fine adjustments. Manufacturing the wooden structure demanded high technical precision to achieve organic forms and smooth transitions without compromising structural strength. Integrating wood and leather also required careful detailing to ensure durability, comfort, and consistent aesthetic quality in potential scaled production.
Research: This design project was developed through research into sustainable materials applied to contemporary furniture, combined with an understanding of function as an adaptive element responsive to different bodies and contexts. The design process integrated hand sketching, 3D modeling, and full-scale prototyping to refine form, structure, and ergonomics, particularly the backrest curvature. The combination of wood and leather references Brazilian modern furniture, positioning craftsmanship as the conceptual core of the object.
Inspiration: The Soli chair inspire by a synthesis of form, identity, and materiality. Its design is structured as a continuous gesture, in which seat and backrest are unified through a single curve. Each curvature is carefully dimensioned to accommodate diverse body types, reflecting the plurality of Brazilian culture. Inspired by traditional wooden furniture and natural elements such as branches and animal horns, the combination of wood and leather emphasizes material honesty, lightness, stability, and tactile comfort, enhancing the users sensorial experience.
Project Duration: The Soli chair was developed through close collaboration between designer and manufacturer with the objective of creating a chair that intuitively adapts to the human body. Completed in 2025 the project followed a rigorous development process with multiple prototypes ergonomic adjustments and formal refinements. The result is a contemporary chair that balances comfort aesthetic identity and production feasibility reflecting research collaboration and care in its creation.
Operation Flow: The chair works as a single, continuous gesture. The seat supports the body, while the curved backrest approaches like an embrace, intuitively guiding posture. There are no adjustments or mechanisms: comfort comes directly from the form itself, which naturally adapts to different body types. The wooden structure sustains this movement with lightness and stability, transforming the act of sitting into a natural, welcoming, and efficient everyday experience.
Patents: Unspecified
Team Members: João Demele – Designer

Juliano Schmidt and Rafael Schmidt – Project approval
Juliano Schmidt and Luiz Eduardo Bossardi – Execution and prototyping
Image Credits: Images developed by designer João Demele.