Sitting with Purpose: Inside SoFA’s Furniture Design Finals

At SoFA Design Institute, design always begins with an idea. In the Furniture Design class taught by Designer Rey Soliven, that idea is refined through process, precision, and purpose.

This term, BS Interior Design students took on the challenge of conceptualizing and building their own furniture pieces—not just on paper, but through hands-on model making. With cardboard as their primary medium and select components produced through 3D printing, students explored the fundamentals of scale, structure, and storytelling in design.

Some worked in groups, while others pursued solo visions. Each project reflected unique insights, design values, and creative problem-solving. For their final exam, students didn’t simply present models; they shared full design narratives—from sketches and mockups to the message behind each piece.

Guided by Sir Rey Soliven, they discovered how furniture can be more than functional—it can embody identity, imagination, and purpose. Let’s take a closer look at how these emerging designers transformed humble materials into bold ideas, one seat at a time.

A Seat with a Story

As Demi Dalusong stood before the panel, her group carefully laid out sketches, process boards, and their scale model. Watching them present felt like witnessing an idea evolve from pencil lines on paper to a cardboard structure already hinting at its final form. Every fold and detail spoke of intention, and as the chair was revealed, you could easily imagine it one day belonging in a cozy living room: expressive in design, yet inviting in comfort.

Questions for Demi Dalusong

What personal experiences or observations inspired you to design a piece that transforms functionally?
“For me, I like looking into the materials we use for projects and incorporating a contradicting element into the design. I enjoy pushing my work toward a blend of functionality, creativity, and emotion—which I believe makes a design more meaningful. For this piece, the inner patterns of cardboard inspired the chair’s base, serving as both an aesthetic detail and the key structural element that supports weight without compromising design.”

Can you walk us through one key design decision you had to revise, and why?
“One original feature was a flower detail at the back of the chair, meant to balance the striking base with a softer element. While it worked in the scale model, we realized that at full size, it would add weight and tension to the back, potentially making the chair unbalanced or uncomfortable. We also adjusted the seat shape to prioritize comfort and functionality.”

If this model were to be developed into a real product, what materials would you upgrade first?
“Wood would be a great material. The design is simple enough to be carved, and wood would provide stronger support than cardboard. With wood, I believe we could refine and elevate the chair’s original design.”

Form Meets Function

When Erica Lalantacon presented her design, all eyes were drawn to the display: two versions of her chair—a full-scale cardboard model and a detailed 3D-printed miniature. To prove its strength, Erica stood on her cardboard chair, earning nods for its durability. Meanwhile, her miniature model, with its intricate detailing felt like a piece of art in itself. Inspired by the organic shape of an orange, her design was playful yet refined, a reflection of her ability to turn simple forms into meaningful furniture.

Questions for Erica Lalantacon

How did you approach designing a piece that serves multiple functions without compromising its form?
“This piece reflects my love for the color and fruit orange. I wanted to capture its playful nature by shaping the chair with rounded forms, then making it even more interactive by adding a hole in the armrest to collect keychains either as a pillow accessory or decorative element, similar to the trend of customizing bags with keychains.”

In terms of proportion and scale, what was the trickiest part to achieve with cardboard?
“The hardest part was cutting the curved design accurately. Using a fresh blade for each piece made the process smoother. With Sir Rey’s guidance, I also learned the importance of precise measurements to achieve balanced proportions.”

If this chair entered a real home, what kind of lifestyle or space do you imagine it fitting best?
“I imagine it placed by a window in a pop art-inspired space. For someone else, it could beautifully complement an interior with pop art or art deco influences.”

Furniture with Feeling

Cari’s group presented one of the largest projects in the room—an outdoor-inspired furniture concept designed for backyards, alfresco dining areas, or public parks. Their live demonstration was unforgettable: the group sat and lay down on the piece to prove its durability. Despite being made entirely of cardboard, the structure was impressively sturdy, shaped with balance and care, and filled with potential for real-world applications. It was the product of many sleepless nights and countless refinements.

Questions for Cari Mizuse

What emotions or human needs were you hoping to translate into your chair’s design?
“Our public seating chair was designed around the idea of reconnection. We wanted people to have a space to pause, rest, and reconnect—with themselves, with others, and with nature. Our concept revolved around biophilia—the innate human desire to connect with living things. By giving the chair an organic, curved form, it feels like a natural extension of the environment.”

How did you design with comfort in mind while working with cardboard and scaled models?
“Comfort was part of our design thinking from the start. With Sir Rey’s guidance, we learned to prioritize function over aesthetics—because good design must feel good to use. While we had full creative freedom, we were also taught to respect ergonomic dimensions so that the chair would be both practical and comfortable.”

What moment during your final presentation made you feel most proud?
“Seeing our vision fully realized during the presentation was the proudest moment. Sharing our concept, showing our progress, and finally presenting the finished piece was rewarding—especially seeing how proud our peers and mentors were. That moment showed us what passion, creativity, and teamwork can truly achieve.”

Guiding Vision: Insights from the Director of Academic Affairs

🎤 Question for Director of Academic Affairs, Ms. Mads Constantino:
“From your perspective, how do projects like this reflect the bigger vision of what design education should truly be about?”

Ms. Mads Constantino:
“This project captures the very heart of the SoFA Method and the essence of Design Thinking: turning constraint into ingenuity. Working with corrugated cardboard became a masterclass in material intelligence. Students pushed it far beyond its humble origins, manipulating and reinforcing it until the prototypes were structurally robust, ergonomically sound, and fully aligned with furniture design principles. I especially appreciated how each prototype carried the students’ own design DNA or group aesthetic. It was inspiring to hear their processes and narratives, and to see how these ideas translated into outcomes that both they and their mentor, Sir Rey, could be truly proud of.”

Final Thoughts

The Furniture Design finals were more than a class requirement, they were proof of progress, process, and passion. At SoFA Design Institute, students don’t just sketch ideas, they bring them to life.

For these young designers, every crease, connection, and cardboard curve was a step closer to the future they’re shaping—one chair, one challenge, one concept at a time.

If you’re ready to start shaping your own future in design, SoFA is now accepting applications for:

🎨 BA Fashion Design and Marketing
🏠 BS Interior Design
🛋️ BS Interior Design-Professional

Enroll today!
📲 Contact our Admissions Office:
📧 admissions@sofa.edu.ph
📞 0917 501 8136 / 0917 539 7574

📍 2nd Level, The Proscenium Retail Row at Rockwell, Makati City, Metro Manila