Colby Lounge Noho Hoʻomaha by Cameron Smith

Colby Lounge Noho Hoʻomaha by Cameron Smith is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Lako Hale Competition Category.

KeleaweLako Hale· 2026

Colby Lounge Noho Hoʻomaha

by Cameron Smith

Client: Furniture Smith

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Lako Hale Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #174966

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Colby Lounge Noho Hoʻomaha

He noho hoʻomaha ʻo Colby Lounge i hoʻolālā ʻia no nā keiki a me nā mākua. Hoʻokumu ʻia ke ʻano o ka noho ma luna o ʻelua uluna poepoe like me ka hua moa i hoʻoulu ʻia e ke kino kanaka. Ma muli o nā ʻano poepoe, hiki i ka mea noho ke noho pololei, ke hilinaʻi ʻaoʻao, a i ʻole ke ʻōpiʻi. Hana ʻia nā wāwae me ke alumini i kūpeʻe pololei ʻia me ka pena pauka, a hāʻawi ke kūlana kaulike ʻole o nā wāwae i ka paʻa me ka ʻole o nā kākoʻo keʻa. Uhi ʻia ka ʻiʻo hū me ka lole microfiber ʻo Alcantara ma nā waihoʻoluʻu paʻa a i ʻole nā waihoʻoluʻu kaha. He 1020 mm ka laulā o ka noho, 930 mm ka hohonu, a he 760 mm ke kiʻekiʻe.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Colby Lounge Noho Hoʻomaha 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 Colby Lounge Noho Hoʻomaha 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 Colby Lounge Noho Hoʻomaha 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: Meet the Colby Lounge Chair: a whimsical, playful chair designed to ignite joy and creativity in children and adults. Inspired by shapes that echo the human form, its soft rounded elliptical design invites people to explore various seating positions and engage in imaginative play. Enhanced by vibrant Alcantara fabric coverings, Colby's Lounge Chairadds personality to any environment, making it versatile for both residential and commercial spaces.
Dimensions & Packaging: 1020mm wide x 930mm deep x 760mm tall
Tags: lounge chair, Children furniture, playful design
Production Technology: The structural legs are precision-bent aluminum finished in various powder-coat colorways. High-performance Alcantara microfiber is used to cover the foam core for a durable and comfortable finish. Multi-panel construction allows for solid or striped color applications. The human-form-inspired dual-ellipse configuration is engineered for structural integrity under dynamic loading conditions typical of active play environments.
Design Challenge: The primary design challenge was engineering the complex leg geometry required for both aesthetic and structural performance. The legs feature multi-directional bends, creating a wider front stance than rear. The non-parallel leg configuration was used as a design and structural solution to keep the chair from racking without the need for crossbracing. A custom fastener design was needed to overcome the geometric constraints maintaining clean visual lines while ensuring structural integrity under climbing loads.
Research: Design research focused on children's furniture and interaction pattern with the objective to create seating that encourages active play while meeting parental durability requirements. Methodology involved iterative prototyping from initial concept through 3D printed scale models to full engineering prototypes. Primary participant was designer's child providing real-world usage insights. Results showed children naturally adopt multiple seating positions when furniture permits. Key insight: traditional static seating limits child engagement. Impact: demonstrates furniture can serve dual function as play equipment, influencing family furniture market toward more interactive designs.
Inspiration: The design originated from a chair prototype with two elliptical forms I initially built for my son, Colby, when he was a baby. I reimagined the concept as a lounge chair centered on addressing children's need for playful, imaginative furniture while meeting parents' requirements for durability and safety. The human-form-inspired elliptical geometry encourages multiple seating positions, transforming furniture into an interactive play element that withstands active use.
Project Duration: The first sketch was created in 2022. The first prototypes were completed May 2025 with the design entering production.
Operation Flow: Colby Lounge Chair invites natural, intuitive interaction through its soft, rounded shapes that invite people to interact with the chair in different ways. Users can sit traditionally, lounge sideways, or curl up. Children instinctively explore different positions and use the sturdy aluminum legs as climbing aids to reach the seat, turning furniture into playground equipment. The elliptical cushions cradle the body comfortably in any position. Parents appreciate how the design withstands climbing and bouncing while encouraging creative, active sitting that keeps children engaged
Team Members: Cameron Smith, designer
Image Credits: Meagan West