Ten chairs were designed by master students at ECAL and amongst them was the HUG chair which was produced by Karimoku. This was designed as a part of a competition to create chairs for the Switzerland Pavilion at the World Exhibition as a part of Expo 2025 Osaka.
The HUG chair was by students Min Xiyao and Jacob Kouthoofd Mårtensson. It is defined by a curved silhouette and stackability. The designers noted, "We designed the HUG chair with a simple yet thoughtful principle: three curves – one for stackability, one for comfort, and one for aesthetics."
The head of master product design at EVAL Camille Blin explained the design process, "The aim was to design a stackable and versatile chair that could meet the various needs of visitors and pavilion staff. To avoid the environmental impact of shipping the chairs to Japan, we collaborated with Karimoku New Standard to produce them locally."
Intertwined Wooden Chair Designs
Karimoku and ECAL Students Create the HUG Chair
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Local Production - Emphasizing local manufacturing, the HUG chair collaboration reduces environmental impacts by eliminating long-distance shipping.
2. Stackable Furniture Design - The HUG chair showcases innovative stackable features, enhancing space efficiency for both residential and commercial settings.
3. Collaborative Educational Projects - Partnerships between educational institutions and manufacturers like Karimoku highlight new avenues for design competitiveness and curriculum integration.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - The collaboration on the HUG chair exemplifies how furniture manufacturers can leverage local resources to create environmentally friendly products.
2. Sustainable Design - Innovations like the HUG chair reflect the growing demand for sustainability-focused designs in the furniture industry.
3. Higher Education - Universities engaging in real-world design projects position themselves as leaders in practical and sustainable design education.