Rocking Dolphin: A Fun and Natural Furniture Piece for Kids

Inspired by the Playfulness of Wild Dolphins

Rocking Dolphin, designed by Daisuke Nagatomo & Minnie Jan, is a unique and innovative kid furniture piece that brings the beauty of nature into children's playrooms. Inspired by the mother nature of Yilan County, Taiwan, this rocking chair captures the essence of wild dolphins in a playful and functional design.

What sets Rocking Dolphin apart from other kid furniture pieces is its attention to detail and craftsmanship. The designers have used CNC milled pine plank parts with steel rod joints to maintain a beautiful natural wood appearance while ensuring easy assembly. This also allows the chair to be flat-packed for easy transportation, making it convenient for shipping.

The design of Rocking Dolphin is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. The chair is made with 100% natural wood planks, providing a soft sanded edge for kids to enjoy touching the smooth wood surface and feel the nature. The main seating area of the chair is the front area of the top fin, while the side fins serve as a place for kids to rest their feet.

Rocking Dolphin is not just a piece of furniture; it is an interactive and educational toy for young children. It promotes imaginative play and sensory exploration, allowing kids to engage with an adorable ocean creature - the dolphin. By incorporating elements from nature, this design stimulates young minds and encourages a deeper connection with the environment.

The Rocking Dolphin project started in May 2014 and was finalized with two prototypes for the Yilan Kid Chair Design Competition. The design received a quality award among over 600 entries at the contest, showcasing its innovative and exceptional qualities. The chair has been exhibited at various design events, including the Taiwan Designers Week 2014 in Taipei City and the Vision of Children Chair Exhibition 2015 in Yilan City.

Daisuke Nagatomo & Minnie Jan, the designers behind Rocking Dolphin, have conducted extensive research in digital fabrication and 3D modeling. By utilizing CNC milling and laser cutting machines, they have been able to achieve precise and intricate designs that would be challenging to achieve with traditional handcrafting methods. Their research also focuses on making digital fabricated designs accessible to the general consumer at economical prices.

The creative and technical challenges of the Rocking Dolphin design were overcome through careful planning and problem-solving. The designers studied dolphin poses to simplify and abstract the figure into a rocking chair shape. The choice of 12mm pine planks for CNC fabrication was based on both aesthetic considerations and the material's physical strength to support the weight of a child.

Rocking Dolphin has received recognition for its outstanding design and innovation. It was awarded the Silver A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category in 2016. This prestigious award is given to designs that demonstrate exceptional expertise, creativity, and technical characteristics. Rocking Dolphin stands out for its remarkable level of excellence and its ability to evoke positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.