Misfit Nofoa by Chanhee Kim is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award Apamemea in Mamanu Meafale Competition Category.

ApamemeaMeafale· 2024

Misfit Nofoa

by Chanhee Kim

A' Design Award Apamemea Winner in Meafale Category

13,734

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #156510

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Misfit Nofoa

Misfit o se nofoa laupapa ua mamanuina e lagolago ai tulaga eseese o le nofo. O le nofoa e faia i le laupapa pi'i (beech) ma fa'ai'uina i le vali malemo (satin varnish), lea e fa'aalia ai le lanu masani o le mea faitino. O vae pito i tua ua pi'o e feso'ota'i i se tuavae fa'aafa-li'o na fa'afausia e ala i le lamination bending. O vae, tuavae, ma fa'alava e feiloa'i i tulimanu eseese ma fausia ai se tulaga paleni atoa. O sootaga mortise ma tenon, fa'apea ma sootaga uso, e maua ai le mautu ma le umi o le fa'aogaina. O le tuavae fa'aafa-li'o e lagolago i le tuasino ma e avea fo'i ma lagolago pe a nofo le tagata i le itu.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Apamemea

O le A' Design Award Apamemea na manumalo ai Misfit Nofoa, o se faamaoniga matuā mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu ese e iloga i le fatufatuaʻi, le atamai ma le poto. O ē manumalo i le Apamemea o mea e iai le tomai atoa ma fatufatuaʻi mataʻina e faamaonia ai le poto masani tele, le mafaufau ma le atamai o tagata mamanu. E faamoemoeina Misfit Nofoa e avea ma mea e vivii tele, ua pelepelea, e iloga i le tomai faapolofesa ma mea fou. O lenei mamanu na manumalo i le A' Design Award Apamemea e tuufaatasia ai faiga sili i le faatufugaga, saienisi, mamanu ma tekonolosi ma e sili ona lelei i le mataituina o mea itiiti. Misfit Nofoa e faamalieina matagofie manaʻoga, pa i manaʻo, faalataina lagona ma faaosofia le fia iloa.

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.