Loxo Chair was created by Heechan Kim while completing an MFA in Furniture Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design, earning the Best of Students award at this year's WANTED Schools Showcase during ICFF. Named after the African elephant genus Loxodonta, the design pairs a walnut frame with a suspended upholstered cylindrical bolster that expresses the animal's reassuring presence through form, material, and comfort rather than literal representation.
Developed through multiple prototypes, the chair balances sculptural expression with everyday functionality. User testing informed refinements to the bolster's proportions and seating comfort, while budget constraints led the initial version to use faux leather upholstery. Kim plans to produce future iterations in natural leather or another high-performance material. The walnut frame echoes the U-shaped curve created by the suspended cushion.
Image Credit: Heechan Kim
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Biomorphic Furniture
- Animal-inspired forms are giving seating products emotional resonance while creating room for premium pieces that balance sculpture, comfort, and subtle storytelling.
- Suspended Cushioning
- Cylindrical bolsters and floating support structures introduce new ergonomic and visual possibilities for lounge furniture beyond conventional padded shells.
- Prototype-led Design
- Iterative testing with users is reshaping collectible furniture by linking artistic experimentation with practical refinements in comfort, scale, and usability.
Sectors Adopting This
- Furniture Design
- Expressive seating concepts can differentiate brands in a crowded market through distinctive silhouettes, tactile materials, and functional artistry.
- Interior Design
- Statement lounge chairs offer hospitality, residential, and workplace environments a softer way to create memorable focal points without overt theming.
- Material Innovation
- Transitions from faux leather to natural or high-performance upholstery highlight opportunities for durable, sustainable, and luxury material applications in sculptural furniture.
