Furniture Design Portfolio by Tanuvi Hegde

Design Portfolio

Furniture Design Selected Works

Tanuvi Hegde is an architect and designer from India with an MFA in Furniture Design from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Her work explores the relationship between people and the inanimate objects that shape human behavior and culture. Focusing on the sensory experience of touch, her thesis examines how furniture can foster meaningful interactions, encourage mindfulness, and include moments of whimsy. Tanuvi’s designs aim to create lasting impressions, forging deep, playful, and tactile connections between users and the objects they encounter.

PROJECTS

Divide Room Divider | metal

Chair Stacking Chair | recycled aluminum, orange peel Exhibit (A) - Furniture for the Anxious Being

Furniture collection / 03.2023 / 02.2024 / 11.2024 / READ

/ READ / WATCH / READ The Vino Dining Ensemble | wood, leather, clay / 05.2023 / READ / WATCH

Emeco Peel

thesis collection comprising 3 pieces that tell a story

Exhibit (A) Furniture for the Anxious Being

As mental health has increasingly become a priority in contemporary society, this collection of furniture addresses our everyday anxieties by incorporating sensory design and emotional engagement into its design. It offers a vision of what furniture can become when unrestricted by purely functional or aesthetic norms, but instead driven by the needs of emotional well-being. The title, “Exhibit (A),” signifies “Exhibiting Anxiety,” presenting it as both the subject and the essence of the collection.

Are We the Most Anxious Generation?

Anxiety is the most commonly diagnosed psychological condition, affecting an estimated 4.7% of the global population—approximately 359 million people as of 2021. This complex and multifaceted phenomenon has been a part of human history, yet it remains a pressing mental health issue in the modern era.

Today, the prevalence of anxiety is exacerbated by various factors, including rapid technological advancements, globalization, economic instability, social pressures, and environmental concerns. The fast-paced nature of contemporary life, combined with constant connectivity and information overload, often leaves individuals feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

In a time when mental well-being is increasingly recognized as essential, this collection offers tools for self-care. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to address different stages of managing anxiety through engagement and interaction. By fostering a dynamic relationship between the user and their surroundings, these furniture pieces encourage mindfulness and create moments of intentional pause in daily life.

Exhibit (A): Furniture for the Anxious Being

Stage 1: Chaos Inspired By – Observational Grounding Techniques

2: Reflect Inspired By – Fidgeting

Stage 3: Release Inspired By – Burning Rituals

Stage

Chaos

Inspired By : Observational Grounding Techniques

Senses Engaged : Sight, Touch

Anxiety often triggers a downward spiral of overwhelming thoughts, trapping individuals in a cycle of internal turmoil, fixated on past events or consumed by fears of an uncertain future. This mental clutter parallels the familiar “junk drawer,” a storage space holding an unpredictable mix of forgotten and useful objects, from loose batteries to random keys. In its disarray, the junk drawer reflects a chaotic, unsettled state of mind.

This first piece draws inspiration from the grounding technique of observing one’s surroundings to break free from anxious thought cycles. Designed as a counter to the autopilot act of opening a drawer, it prompts the user to pause, search, and engage with hidden finger grooves. Deceptively simple, this process invites a mindful interaction, encouraging users to explore the present through a tactile connection. Each drawer pulls out at an angle creating a playful and unexpected interaction. This disruption of routine is meant to redirect attention to the immediate environment, transforming the subconscious act of opening a drawer into an intentional, grounding experience.

Exhibit (A): Furniture for the Anxious Being

Red Oak, Birch plywood drawer box | 16”L x 16”D x 42”H

Reflect

Inspired By : Fidgeting Senses Engaged : Touch, Sound

The second piece in the collection focuses on the idea of sitting with one’s thoughts. It encourages individuals to fully experience and accept their emotions and thoughts without attempting to change or suppress them. Across various cultures and spiritual practices, meditation teaches that by intentionally calming the body, one can also calm the mind. As the body becomes still, the mind gradually follows, creating the conditions necessary for deeper awareness and insight.

Fidgeting—often seen as a distraction—is increasingly recognized as a grounding technique. Small, repetitive actions, such as tapping one’s foot, twirling hair, or fingertapping, release nervous energy, helping individuals manage stress while sharpening concentration.

The chair introduces a playful element: a ball rolls along the armrest, creating subtle vibrations and sounds that provide both auditory focus and tactile sensations. This gentle engagement helps users process their thoughts while offering a physical release for restlessness. The chair becomes a quiet sanctuary, encouraging introspection.

Exhibit (A): Furniture for the Anxious Being

Cherry, Leather

x 32”D x 35”H

Release

Inspired By : Burning Ritual

Senses Engaged : Sight, Touch, Smell, Sound

Rituals hold deep significance in human life, offering structure, meaning, and connection. Across cultures, fire has been an elemental symbol in rites of passage and transformation, representing purification and renewal. Fire rituals are woven into diverse traditions, from religious ceremonies with candles to seasonal bonfires, each one embracing the power of fire to cleanse, transform, and bring closure.

The third piece in the collection invites users to engage in this ritualistic process of release. A writing desk, with an integrated burn bowl, offers a sacred space for expressing and relinquishing thoughts or worries in a tangible form.

As the user writes down their thoughts and watches them burn, they experience a symbolic transformation, with the rising smoke representing the liberation of unburdening oneself. This ritual serves as a powerful reminder of the freedom that comes from confronting and letting go of anxiety.

Exhibit (A): Furniture for the Anxious Being

Red Oak, Steel

| 42”L x 18”D x 32”H

Thesis Show

The exhibition served as both a testing ground and a final step in demonstrating how this thesis collection can help alleviate anxiety by encouraging mindful interactions with thoughtfully designed furniture.

From the initial chaos that threatens to overwhelm, through the gradual process of channeling thoughts and emotions, to the liberating act of release, this collection mirrors the cyclical nature of anxiety itself. It is a sincere response to my own experiences, with the aspiration to offer solace to others facing similar challenges. Each piece is designed to engage multiple senses beyond sight—touch, sound, and even smell—with a strong emphasis on tactile interaction. The collection invites users not only to find comfort but also to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing.

Exhibit (A): Furniture for the Anxious Being

/ All Projects

Sapele Wood, Leather, Clay

The Vino

Wine is a symbol of conviviality and shared experiences. Sharing a bottle of wine is a time-honored tradition, a way of celebrating life’s moments and connecting with others. Whether it’s a casual get-together with friends or a formal dinner party, wine has the ability to breakdown barriers and create a sense of community.

The Vino

CONSTRUCTION

/ WATCH

POPPING THE CORK

6in 2.5in

SOLIDWORKS Educational Product. For Instructional Use Only.

9.7in 1.3in

0.9in

9.7in

1.1in

0.9in

9.7in 1.1in

WRAPPING OF THE BOTTLE

Sapele, Leather

x 30”H

CLUSTER OF GRAPES

Clay | 4”L x 5”W x 0.3”H

22”L x 22”W x 23”H

Sapele, Leather |

POURING WINE

S W I R L

Exhibited at the Gulfstream Center for Design Gallery

Finalist at the The Pinnacle Awards

Won Silver at the International Design Awards

Won Top Design in Home at the European Product Design Awards

Emphasizing the connections being formed between people at the table, the hidden joinery is brought to the surface and exposed

/ The Vino

/ All Projects

47”(L) x 17”(D) x 24”(H) Metal structure with oak wood bench top

Gossip Bench

Putting an end to the fight for a single armrest, the gossip bench was designed for two people to sit and lean in closer to gossip. Simple in form and design, the space inbetween the two armrests serve as a place to keep your things or drinks while chating.

Still from the “The Park Bench” written and directed by Ann LeSchander

CONSTRUCTION

/ WATCH

AWARDS

Exhibited at the Gulfstream Center for Design Gallery

Exhibited at the SCAD booth at ICFF x Wanted Design, New York

Shortlisted at the ISFD Innovation + Design Awards

Won Silver at the Internation Design Awards

/ Gossip Bench

72”(L) x 2”(D) x 72”(H) Metal framework with sheet metal fans and a mahogany wood base

Drawing inspiration from the protective nature of human body armor, the overall form mirrors the segmented plates found on the arms of medieval armor, with metal fans filling the spaces, reminiscent of the overlapping metal details.

CONSTRUCTION

The choice of blue as the primary color is a nod to the traditional deliberate color selection complements the steel elements,

traditional depiction of the hue in Japanese samurai armor. This elements, creating a cohesive and visually striking composition.

/ Divide

18.5”(L) x 18.5”(D) x 31”(H)

Recycled aluminum tubing & orange peel boards

Emeco Peel Chair

Orange juice stands as the quintessential American breakfast drink, embodying vitality and freshness. The Peel Chair combines boards made from agro-waste generated by the juice manufacturing factories and the classic emeco 1 inch recycled aluminum tubing.