Khaya Task Chair

Challenge

Furniture waste and discarded materials contribute to environmental problems, while affordable and sustainable furniture options can be limited. Research with the target market indicated interest in more sustainable furniture, alongside practical needs around comfort, durability, and suitability for home study and work.

Solution

I designed Khaya, a study and work chair for home use that combines a reclaimed task-chair base, pallet wood, and discarded fashion-fabric offcuts to create a more sustainable seating solution.

Design process

• Researched discarded materials and opportunities for their use in furniture.
• Explored chair forms through sketches, focusing on proportion, modularity, and user interaction.
• Developed the chair in CAD to investigate assembly, material integration, and ergonomics.
• Built and reviewed a full-scale prototype to refine the design and construction details.

Outcome

The project resulted in a full-scale functional chair prototype that demonstrates how reclaimed materials from different sources can be combined into a practical piece of furniture for home study and work.