Press Release
Haleiwa Chair by Melissa Mae Tan Receives the Silver A' Design Award in Furniture Design
Melissa Mae Tan recognized for furniture design by the international grand jury of the 2019 - 2020 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 23, 2020 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Haleiwa Chair by Melissa Mae Tan, designed for Beyond Function, has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category. The result belongs to the 2019 - 2020 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Silver A' Design Award
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Regarding Haleiwa Chair
The Haleiwa weaves sustainable rattan into sweeping curves and casts a distinct silhouette. The natural materials pay homage to the artisanal tradition in the Philippines, remade for present times. Paired, or used as a statement piece, the versatility of the design makes this chair adapt to different styles. Creating a balance between form and function, grace and strength, architecture and design, the Haleiwa is as comfortable as it is beautiful.
About Melissa Mae Tan
Melissa has been practicing architecture in the Philippines for the past 10 years. Her practice mainly focused on retail and residential projects, which exposed her to the scarcity of well designed and affordable local furniture pieces. With the help of her father's furniture manufacturing company, she decided to delve into furniture design in order to address the need and to explore a design language different from what she has grown used to. She aims to create affordable and stylish pieces relevant to the region because she believes that good design should be accessible to everyone.
Award Record
Melissa Mae Tan is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Furniture Design Award
The A' Furniture Design Award is an international furniture competition recognizing good furniture designs by best furniture designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to furniture designers, product designers, industrial design studios and furniture brands from all countries. Typical entries include chairs, tables, sofas, beds, cabinets and shelves. The awarded furniture designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/furniture
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/99707
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/99707
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!99707
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/266889
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Haleiwa Chair
- Function
- Chair
- Category
- Furniture Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home
- Colors
- Gainsboro, Peru, Rosy Brown, Tan and Sienna
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Beyond Function
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Melissa Mae Tan
- Country
- Philippines
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2019 - 2020
- Design ID
- #99707
Credits
- Image Credits
- All images: Photographer Berwin Coroza, 2020
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Legacy meets contemporary. Grace meets strength. Sweeping curves seamlessly merge with striking lines. Rattan, a pliant material commonly used in indigenous Philippine furniture, gets a modern upgrade when paired with a solid metal frame. This chair's form and weave pay tribute to the rich history of the material and the artisans that have crafted pieces from it, while breaking away from tradition just enough to create a statement.
- Inspiration
- This piece was inspired by the concept of balance. The balance between strength and fluidity, modern and traditional, complexity and simplicity.
- Research
- The research focus for the Haleiwa was on the balance and stability based on its unconventional form. The optimum placements of supports and dimensions of elements were studied and tested throughout the prototyping period.
- Challenge
- Stability was a key concern. The width of the legs that connect the base to the seat posed a challenge. The design of a triangular base was the solution that balanced the structural and aesthetic. Internal support placement also posed a challenge since the design shows all of its skeletal composition. The supports had to be created and then strategically located in order to maximize stability, while being as inconspicuous as possible.
- Realization and Technology
- Rattan is a sustainable material commonly used for weaving due to its durability. A cantilever design would not have been practical, and thus metal framing was used to add stability. As a nod to the handwoven rattan, the metal was manually bent to shape.
- Operation and Interaction
- The chair is wide enough for the user to sit comfortably in any position. Cushions are also provided for additional ease and comfort without distracting from the visual impact.
- Project Duration and Location
- The chair was conceptualized in August 2019 and prototype finished October 2019. Designed and manufactured in Manila, Philippines
- Specifications
- 640mm width x 850mm depth x 830mm height
- Keywords
- haleiwa, chair, rattan, woven, handmade, indigenous
