Derek Lin


Avonafurniture design2024
A plush lounge chair that brings the comforts of home to the hybrid workplace. Soft, inviting, and designed to brighten office environments, it blends sofa-like comfort with playful, functional design.


role: industrial designer
team: xander adams, arik stuffles
state: working prototype
client: Nienkämper




Process


Problem:


Post-pandemic workplaces face reduced on-site presence, creating underutilized spaces and a need for more engaging environments.


How Might We...


Design a lounge seating solution that fosters comfort and engagement to draw employees back to the workplace?




Development: Finding Form


Various exploration techniques, including clay modeling in combination with initial sketches, were utilized to determine the final direction.


The design intention was to bring the comforts of home to the workplace through fun, colorful, and inviting lounge seating.




Construction Process


Avona’s plush seating profile was shaped with a box-cutter knife, sandpaper, and a rasp, then wrapped in dacron. The main challenge at this phase was ensuring the fabric remained taut for a seamless finish.





Humber Polytechnic Industrial Design Chair Show 2024





© Derek Lin 2025 — updated: 01_08_25