Kwalu Introduces New Finish Palette and Debuts Four Collections at NeoCon 2025
Ellie, Ethan, Nashville, and Outdoor Furniture Highlight a Cross-Vertical Approach to Supportive Design
Chicago, IL – June 2, 2025 – At NeoCon 2025, Kwalu presents a focused look at how purposeful materials and enduring design shape better care environments. The company unveils a new finish palette featuring eight Protea™ and Protea™ Fusion colors, now available for order, alongside the NeoCon debut of four key collections designed for healthcare and senior living: Ellie, Ethan, Nashville, and Tropitone for Kwalu.
“This year’s NeoCon is about progress—not just in design, but in how our products serve people,” notes Damion Van Slyke, Vice President of Marketing at Kwalu. “Every launch we’re showing was created to support the environments where care, connection, and comfort matter most.”
Featured Product Launches:
Ellie Collection – Designed by Von Robinson, the Ellie series includes a patient recliner and sleeper sofa shaped by neuroaesthetic research and a biophillic-inspired design language. Thoughtfully created to support mobility, healing, dignity, and family presence, Ellie responds to the real-world needs of inpatient care. From the gentle curvature of its “embrace back” to sit-to-stand support and integrated clinical features, every element is emotionally attuned.
“Curves help healing, and Ellie’s forms are intentionally soft—reinforcing the idea that beauty and function are not at odds, but essential to care,” explains Robinson. “With Ellie, I set out to provide a safe haven—one that supports rest and connection for patients and care partners alike.”
Ethan Collection – Created by Brian Graham, Ethan is a suite of modern casegoods for the patient room—featuring bedside cabinets, wardrobes with integrated seating, mobile carts, and more. Soft corners and refined lines offer a sense of calm while meeting the durability, storage, and flexibility requirements of today’s healthcare environments.
“We designed Ethan to deliver architectural clarity and human comfort,” said Graham. “It’s approachable and timeless—but built for the performance demands of healthcare settings.”
Nashville Collection – A resident room line designed for senior living, Nashville brings clean lines, elevated proportions, and a warm, contemporary presence to personal spaces. First launched at EFA, it now makes its NeoCon debut with an emphasis on residential familiarity and ease of use.
Tropitone for Kwalu –This new outdoor expansion features two collections—Breeze and Oasis—created in partnership with Tropitone. Designed specifically for senior living, the seating blends relaxed comfort with upright ergonomic support, anchoring options, and hospitality-inspired detailing across lounge and dining pieces.
New Finish Palette –The updated finish offering includes eight new colorways, designed to give designers more flexibility with deeper contrast, tonal warmth, and cross-application harmony. All finishes are now available to order and apply across the full product catalog.
Visit the Kwalu showroom on the 11th floor, Suite 1199 of THE MART to experience the full range of product introductions.
About Von Robinson
Von Robinson is an award-winning American industrial designer and founder of Play Orbit Studio, acclaimed for his insight-driven, and poetic healthcare and high-end products for esteemed global brands, including Moroso, Kwalu, and Estée Lauder. A multi-time recipient of the Best of NeoCon Gold and Nightingale awards, Robinson is a sought-after speaker on healthcare design and design-thinking, lecturing at prominent institutions and events worldwide, such as ICFF, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Mayo Transform, and the Medical World Americas (MWA).
About Brian Graham
With over 30 years of experience in design, Brian has developed a strategic approach combining planning, research, and creativity to deliver solutions that meet both the needs and expectations of his manufacturing partners.
Brian Graham is the founder and creative director of Graham Design, a San Francisco based design studio specializing in contemporary furniture and related products for the workplace and healthcare markets.
About Kwalu
At Kwalu, we craft nurturing environments that inspire care, comfort and connection in senior living and healthcare.
Media Contact
Damion Van Slyke
Vice President Marketing
dvanslyke@kwalu.com
812.639.5791
Kwalu.com
