Noma
DINING SET
Noma
DINING SET
The Noma Dining Set explores furniture designed for people in transition, whether moving for college, internships, or new career opportunities. The collapsible set prioritizes movability, adapting to limited transport space and the frequent relocations that define young adult life.
This project reflects my passion for furniture and interior design, and my curiosity for how spaces shape our experiences. Through this Capstone process, I learned the importance of adapting when things don’t go as planned and clarified the values I want to carry into my career. Inspired by both sustainable practices and the challenges faced by young adults moving through life transitions, this work explores how design can respond to mobility and change.
Capstone 2025
Catalyst For Design
This project was inspired by circular design values and the lifespan of furniture. While not strictly a sustainability project, it grew from my interest in rethinking how furniture is used, moved, and kept out of landfills. A visit to NeoCon in Chicago, where circularity was a central theme, sparked the ideas that shaped the form, branding, and display of this work.
Initial Research
Instance of Interest
Curb disposal on college campuses and surrounding areas.
Design Objective
How can we design furniture that travels with you, discouraging young adults from repeated furniture disposal throughout life transitions?
Inspiration & Trend Analysis
Concept Development
“Warm, cozy, youthful, expressive, elegant.”
This inspiration board captures the target aesthetic, drawing from Scandinavian design with clean lines, curves, and tapered details. Warm tones create a cozy atmosphere suited for young adults, while expressive yet elegant forms elevate the piece beyond the typical folding chair.
Concept Development
Many concepts were explored to find a solution. Initially, concepts used intuitive joinery to explore methods of stacking.
Exploring designs for young adults, I focused on creating a portable dining set that balances comfort, expression, and elegance. Upholstery and color add softness, while thoughtful details encourage semi-permanence. The circular form invites conversation and connection, making it ideal for college living—compact enough to move between spaces, yet designed to bring people together. The design language carries throughout the set, creating a cohesive, approachable collection.
This concept explored furniture designed for compact storage and easy transport, with elements that could fold, roll, or stack into a single bundle. Feedback from industry professionals highlighted the potential of modularity and portability, but also revealed confusion around multi-functional pieces and storage for extra components. The initial concept proved too broad, so the next iteration refocused on a single complex setup, emphasizing portability and clarity in design.
Validation
Prototyping and Manufacturing
I printed a full-scale 3D model to verify proportions and practice upholstery, while planning patterns and materials. After submitting the CNC job, I moved into building, including finishing, fitting, sanding, upholstering, and installing straps with dowels, learning new skills along the way.
Final Design and Function
This concept focuses on a folding table designed for a smaller footprint, with legs that bundle together for easy transport. Hardware, including knurled thumb screws, is integrated into the stretcher for simple assembly. Stretchers connect and are secured with the seat, while straps guide users through setup. The front leg stretchers hinge upward when bundled, creating a compact, car-friendly package.
This design features front legs that hinge up to match the height of the back legs, making it easier to bundle and store together. Being able to carry the bundles of legs and table, the seats can be placed in a bag for easy transport.
Inspired by the softness of Scandinavian design, Noma introduces curved back legs with slight tapers for some added elegance. With a youthful color palette, the set is welcoming and expressive. Details include an overall circular form, translated from the first concept explored, with cushions lined with a piping detail that match the backrests.
Final images of the completed build show the design realized as envisioned. A circular rug complements the table and overall color palette. The piece was featured in the 2025 DAAPworks capstone exhibition.