Conceived us as an article of warm, welcoming design rather than a medical device (thanks to feedback on a prototype model, that was presented at L’École de design Nantes Atlantique, from people with autism as well as from psychometricians studying sensory processing disorders), graduate designer Alexia Audrain’s Oto chair inflates to “hug” a person sitting within it. This cocooning effect can help people with autism …
Designed by Jasper Morrison, the Thinking Man’s Chair was one of several objects that defined the progressive reputation of Italian furniture manufacturer Cappellini in the ’80s and ’90s. Since its inception in 1996, London-based design retailer and producer twentytwentyone (now in its namesake year) championed Cappellini and its visionary director, Giulio Cappellini—the son of the brand’s founder, Enrico. Now, to celebrate their 25th anniversary, twentytwentyone will release limited edition collaborations with …
For the last few years, a team of devout Star Trek fans—including Buenos Aires-based 3D artist Tadeo D’Oria—have been carefully identifying every chair in its science fiction universe. Much of what they’ve found happens to be off-the-shelf designs from well-known designers including Charles and Ray Eames, Charlotte Perriand and Eero Saarinen. Sometimes these designs were painted and modified; sometimes they were used as is to …
