Bold Type: NAU’s Billo collection gets a sculptural makeover

When the original Billo sofa collection, by Adam Goodrum for NAU, was launched at Cult during Melbourne in Design 2024, it was a nod to the elegance and soft, generous forms of vintage Italian sofas. Pairing voluptuous, pillowy proportions with a modular design, it was designed to create a sense of comfort in any configuration. “The name Billo reflects the collection’s voluptuous, billowing forms,” said Goodrum when it launched. “The integrated bolster and the relaxed tailoring provide cloud-like comfort. The pillowy shapes embrace you with open arms, making it a truly inviting piece.” Now, Goodrum has reimagined the collection, using sculptural, folded upholstery to create a bolder presence. 

The aptly named Billo Bold features upholstery that gathers across the arms, seat and back in richly tactile pleats, amplifying the volume of the original collection and bringing a bolder treatment to the silhouette. The folds not only add volume, but also movement and depth that give each piece in the collection a sculptural quality. 

Available as an armchair, two-seater and three-seater, Billo Bold is intended – like the original collection – to work across a variety of settings, from living rooms to hospitality and commercial projects. Each piece can be used as a single statement seat, or combined with other modules to form seating landscapes in larger areas, such as hotel lobbies or breakout spaces in the workplace. 

“The Billo collection is characterised by its infinite modularity, allowing each piece to stand alone or be combined seamlessly,” explains Goodrum. “The perky ottoman adds a playful element, further enhancing its appeal.”

While Billo Bold uses the same palette as the original Billo, it treats fabric in a markedly different way. When developing the original, Goodrum collaborated closely with the manufacturing partner to resolve the frame construction and then experimented with different layered foam densities to create the optimal comfort and durability. “The process demonstrates our commitment to quality and innovation,” he says.

Each Billo Bold module is upholstered using the original range of fabrics, with a focus on luxurious textures – including a striking mustard velvet. Instead of wrapping snugly around the pillowed form, however, the textile is ruched and draped to create a soft yet structural cocoon. 

This balance of characterful expression and considered functionality is typical of Goodrum’s approach, and he has applied this vision to collaborations with major Australian brands as well as international brands, such as Veuve Clicquot, Alessi and Cappellini. He is also one of Australia’s most celebrated designers, with accolades including the Vogue Living Product Designer of the Year and recognition in the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame.

Billo Bold continues Goodrum’s impressive trajectory, showcasing how a familiar form can be completely reimagined through a clever twist of material application. In doing so, he has imbued the curved form of Billo with a new sculptural resonance without losing the soft, generous quality that made the original so appealing. As the name suggests, it’s simply made bolder.