reflect: A chair that Invites Engagement
Brooklyn-based architect and furniture designer Tanuvi Hegde introduces her Reflect chair to redefine the role of furniture, transforming a familiar object into an experience that is tactile and engaging. Designed as part of her thesis collection, this piece invites users to engage with their environment through touch, sound, and movement. More than a place to rest, the chair serves as a medium for calming the mind and channeling restless energy.
Reflect began with the designer’s personal exploration into how design can support emotional well-being. Aiming to manage anxious energy, she focused on the often-overlooked unconscious act of fidgeting — the small, repetitive motions that lend a sense of grounding in moments of restlessness. Inspired by the sensation of low-frequency vibrations experienced in a sound healing session, Hegde sought to bring this embodied, non-verbal experience into her design. The result is a chair that creates an active space for the body to respond intuitively to its environment.
Reflect is a chair designed by Tanuvi Hegde that encourages tactile engagement | image © Jonathan Hökklo
a tactile chair of cherry wood and leather
While the Reflect chair’s aesthetic is restrained and quiet, Tanuvi Hegde designs it with an unexpected feature: a small steel ball set into the armrest. This ball occupies a channel, and can be rolled gently from one end to the other, creating a rhythmic motion. As the ball moves, subtle vibrations and sounds envelop the user, inviting them to engage physically and sensorially, and turning the act of sitting into an active, meditative experience.
Reflect’s construction complements its sensory goals. Handcrafted in cherry wood, the chair’s structure is both durable and warm, a reflection of the calming quality it aims to impart. The hand-stitched leather sling and cushion add texture and comfort, creating a tactile experience that supports a sense of relaxation. The cherry wood is selected specifically for its warmth, which leads to a piece that welcomes physical interaction from the moment it is approached.
cherry wood and hand-stitched leather provide a warm, tactile experience | image courtesy Tanuvi Hegde
‘furniture for the anxious being’ by tanuvi hegde
The functional components of Tanuvi Hegde’s Reflect chair — the steel ball bearing and channel in the armrest — add a layer of interactivity, offering users a subtle, satisfying engagement with their environment. The ball, which rolls along the armrest with ease, encourages curiosity while maintaining a focus on gentle motion rather than hurried action. This interaction reinforces the chair’s purpose: to transform stillness into a grounded, sensory ritual, guiding users into a more present, focused state.
Reflect is part of the designer’s collection Exhibit (A): Furniture for the Anxious Being, which challenges conventional views of furniture as solely functional. Hegde’s work invites a reevaluation of how we relate to the objects around us, particularly those we use most often. In contrast to traditional furniture designs, which encourage passivity, Reflect encourages a more dynamic, interactive relationship. It reimagines furniture as empathetic and participatory, fostering emotional connection and self-soothing through thoughtful design. The Reflect chair was presented during NYCxDesign 2025 as part of the Lower East Side show OUTSIDE/IN, curated by Lyle Gallery and Hello Human.
a steel ball set into the armrest invites gentle fidgeting | image © Jonathan Hökklo
the ball’s movement creates subtle, rolling vibrations and sounds | image © Nush Wadia
the project is an exploration of furniture’s role in managing anxiety | image courtesy Tanuvi Hegde
project info:
name: Reflect Chair
designer: Tanuvi Hegde | @tan.hegde
exhibition: OUTSIDE/IN
gallery/curator: Lyle Gallery, Hello Human
photography: © Jonathan Hökklo, Nush Wadia
The post steel ball set into armrest of tanuvi hegde’s ‘reflect’ chair for fidget-friendly design appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.