Misfit Noho by Chanhee Kim is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Lako Hale Competition Category.

KeleaweLako Hale· 2024

Misfit Noho

by Chanhee Kim

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Lako Hale Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Misfit Noho

He Misfit kekahi noho lāʻau i hoʻolālāʻia e kākoʻo i nā ʻano noho like ʻole. Hana ʻia ke noho me ka lāʻau bīka a hoʻopau ʻia me ka varanisa satin, kahi e hōʻike ai i ke kala kūlohelohe o ka mea. Hoʻopili nā wāwae hope kekekeke i kahi kua hapalua-pōʻai i hoʻokala ʻia ma o ke kūlana laminate. ʻO nā wāwae, ke kua, a me nā lāʻau keʻa e hui pū ana ma nā kihi ʻokoʻa a hana i hui kaulike. Hāʻawi nā hui mortise a me tenon a me nā hui wedge i ke kūpaʻa a me ke kau lōʻihi. Kākoʻo ke kua hapalua-pōʻai i ke kuamoʻo a lawelawe pū kekahi i mea kākoʻo ke noho ʻaoʻao ka mea hoʻohana.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Misfit Noho i ka A' Design Award Keleawe, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kūʻokoʻa i ʻike ʻia ma o ka hana noʻeau, ka akamai a me ka makakoho. He mau hana mākaukau a hana noʻeau kupaianaha nā lanakila Keleawe e hōʻoia ana i ka ʻike nui, ka noʻonoʻo a me ka maʻalea o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Misfit Noho he mea i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia, he ʻoihana a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Keleawe e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana, a maikaʻi no kona nānā ʻana i nā kikoʻī. Hoʻokō maikaʻi ka hoʻolālā Misfit Noho i nā pono, hoʻopā i ka makemake, hoʻohiwahiwa i nā manaʻo a huki i ka makemake e ʻike.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The Misfit Chair is characterized by curved rear legs connected to the handle of the backrest. The legs, backrests, and crossbars all meet at distinctive angles, contributing to its unique design, and reflecting the unconstrained spirit of the current generation. Mortise and tenon joints ensure stability and wedged joints enhance durability, especially in connecting the backrest and rear legs. The semicircular backrest adds aesthetic appeal and allows versatile seating.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 695mm X Depth 705mm X Height 805mm
Tags: chair, chair design, furniture, Gen-Z, woodworking
Production Technology: The backrest was made through lamination bending, and all legs and crossbars were pulled out from angled wooden rods converted into round wooden rods through a router table. The frame consists of a half-lap joint, and the seat is also fitted to the frame. Satin varnish is used for an overall finish to stand out for beech wood's unique beautiful natural color.
Design Challenge: The most challenging aspect of the project was securely connecting the angled and intricate joints. As someone who had only been learning woodworking for just over two years, creating this chair posed a significant challenge for me. However, after numerous trial and error attempts, I successfully achieved sturdy connections for all the joints. This experience left me with the lesson that perseverance in the face of challenges can lead to success.
Research: This project aimed envisioning the element of good furniture and setting the direction for my future work. Studying historical pieces, I found that great chairs often express stories of their time through unique, functional forms. Similarly, as a member of present era, I believe my designs should reflect the narrative of my generation, making them distinctive and something only my generation or I can achieve Through this project, I tried to explore individuality and beauty of present generation.
Inspiration: In general, older generations are more likely to perceive younger generations as crooked misfits. However, In my opinion, The quirkiness of the younger generation does not represent rebellion but can be interpreted as an authentic journey of self-discovery and embracement of individual freedom. With this in mind, this furniture features legs, backrest, and crossbars meeting at entirely different angles while coming together in harmony, reflecting the spirit and beauty of the current generation.
Project Duration: Started in March 2023 in Seoul. Finished in December 2023 in Seoul.
Operation Flow: The semi-circular backrest provides firm support for the spine, allowing users to sit in various positions comfortably. For instance, even when the user twists their body at a 90-degree angle, the portion that served as an armrest now functions as back support. This aligns with the concept of a perversed, unconstrained generation, offering the functionality of being able to seat in diverse postures.