the armadillo chair uses laminate strips produced by wilsonart, designed by aodh o donnell image © designboom

the armadillo chair by aodh o donnell uses laminate strips by wilsonart the laminate strips create an inviting texture through the process of shingling them over a curvilinear form image © designboom

the armadillo chair by aodh o donnell uses laminate strips by wilsonartdetail image © designboom

the armadillo chair by aodh o donnell uses laminate strips by wilsonartaodh o donnell was the winner of the 2009 wilsonart challenges image © designboom

wilsonart® challenges is a student design scholarship program to foster the careers of emerging furniture designers in north america. in 2008, wilsonart selected the industrial design department at the university of philadelphia to participate in the program. the students were taught about laminate; its history, technical capabilities, current market trends, and sustainability issues as well as the history of chairs as a decorative arts form. throughout the course of a semester, concepts were generated, discussed and refined through a series of exercises and critiques. wilsonart exhibited the shortlisted designs during new york design week 09 inside the ICFF show floor.