Recent Minneapolis College of Art and Design Furniture BFA graduate Peter Yong Ra has designed the NaMu chair, a white oak, teak and paper cord seat that seeks to embody family values.

NaMu means "tree" in Korean, and Yong Ra chose the name to celebrate the importance of family roots and stories. The chair seeks to embody family values, and its sturdy, solid presence was designed to be passed down from generation to generation.

"On a daily basis everyday objects are inherited and passed down from one generation to another to become family heirlooms. The NaMu chair represents the enduring moments that are formed with these meaningful treasures," states Yong Ra.

The young designer explains his work as one based on the concept of empathy. "Through design, I strive to encounter awareness and sensitivity and aspire to communicate feelings of empathy by designing from a familiar story or an idea," he remarks.