The Seatub by designer Baek-Ki Kim explores a similarity in two different ordinary objects, the bath tub and the seat.
Kim wanted to connect the feeling of relaxation we have while taking a bath in the tub as well as when resting on a chair.
The Seatub tries to shift the bathtub to a seat tub that features a high gloss, lacquered fiber glass shell with chrome-coated claw feet.
Implications - The collaboration of two popular concepts or ideas can often generate more successful results than a brand new and unexposed product. The likelihood that consumers will be drawn to a product combining two classic preferences as opposed to one never-before-seen concept is much greater. While the demand for cutting-edge advanced products is strong today, there remains a longing for familiarity.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Combination Concepts
- There is an opportunity to create successful products by combining two popular concepts or ideas, rather than presenting a completely new product.
- Relaxation-inspired Designs
- Designers can explore creating furniture that evokes feelings of relaxation, such as incorporating elements of a bathtub into a chair design, to appeal to consumers' desire for comfort.
- Familiarity in Innovation
- Consumers still crave familiarity in the products they purchase, so there is potential to create innovative designs that incorporate familiar features to draw in consumers.
Where This Applies
- Furniture Design
- Furniture designers can explore using inspiration from unlikely sources, such as bathtubs, to create unique and comfortable pieces that stand out from traditional furniture.
- Home Decor
- Home decor companies can market products that promote relaxation, by incorporating design elements that evoke feelings of relaxation that come from taking a bath or being comfortable at home.
- Interior Design
- Interior designers can experiment with incorporating unexpected design elements, such as bathtub-inspired chairs, into their projects to create visually interesting and unique spaces.
