Iron Furniture Design · 2020
Mix and Match Seat
by Joao Faria
- A' Design Award 2020 Iron Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Emotional Objects
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 13,433
- Verification code ACD618DCEA · Verify this award
About Mix and Match Seat
Mix and Match is a bench seating collection designed for hotels, entrances and commercial buildings. Each bench has a wood veneer surface in oak, walnut or tineo, with openings that hold chairs in place. The chairs have their legs removed and receive a mechanism that secures them to the bench and lets them rotate freely. Three bench sizes hold two, three or four chairs, and six chair models are offered. A small table and USB charging sockets can be added, so many combinations are possible.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Mix and Match is a fun and original way to sit and wait.
This is another Emotional Object that makes us smile every time we look at it. Designed mostly for hotels, entrances and commercial buildings, there are three sizes of wooden benches available and six different chairs to choose from. A small table and USB sockets for charging phones and tablets are also available. The customization options are almost unlimited. - Dimensions & Packaging
- There are three sizes on the Mix and Match collection, for two, three or four chairs.
Large bench: 3050 x 300 x 200; medium bench: 2350 x 300 x 200; small bench: 1650 x 300 x 200.
This product is delivered in several packages, depending on the parts selected.
The wood veneers available for the benches are oak, walnut and tineo.
The chairs are made of fabric, synthetic leather, polycarbonate or polypropylene, depending on the model. - Tags
- Emotional Objects, Mix and Match, Fun seat, Seat, Wood benches
- Production Technology
- This piece is produced in two distinct stages: first, the creation of a wooden bench, in which there are holes for fitting chairs. This part has a very simple and discreet design so that the chairs can shine. Second, selection of the chairs for placement on the wooden benches. All the different models are adapted, their legs are removed and a mechanism developed for this object is placed in each one. This will allow them to be secured embedded in the wooden bench. The main materials are three different wood veneers, lacquer and chair's materials.
- Design Challenge
- As this object is intended for commercial uses, the main challenge was the choice of chairs with all the certifications required by hospitality and contract projects.
- Project Duration
- This object was designed in the 1st semester of 2019, in Portugal.
- Operation Flow
- The use of this object is as basic and natural as breathing. People sit on the chairs and can rotate them freely on the bench. As an option, there is the possibility of placing a usb charging plug to charge mobile phones and even small tables to use a laptop.
- Research
- The inspiration for our objects comes from the most unusual ways. But we are passionate about our work and every time we have an idea we give it a name and a number and explore it until its last consequences. If it is original, we will find a way to make it. Designed mostly for hotels, entrances and commercial buildings, Mix and Match is a fun way to sit and wait, that makes us smile every time we look at it. This object was designed in 2019, in Portugal. The first prototype was presented at Valencia fair, last September, just to see the acceptance. It was a success and we decided to go forward.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for this object was born of all the magnificent chairs that exist in the market and we all love. If we go back to the middle of the 20th century, we realize that the chairs that make us sigh today were (magnificently) drawn at that time.
There is nothing left to invent ... just reinvent and pay tribute.
Following this concept, Mix and Match revisits some of these classics in a funny way, decontextualizes them, removes some elements and presents them with a twist. - Image Credits
- Images: creator (João Faria/Founder/CEO).
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to João Faria, 2019.
Colors of Mix and Match Seat
Design Interview about Mix and Match Seat
Fun, you must have fun with our work.
When you look for this kind of furniture pieces, to place in waiting rooms or entrances, you realize they are boring. Either you have sofas, benches or individual chairs, they usually are not very special. Unless in luxury places; but this is not for that ending. We could have in the future a luxury version of Mix & Match, with different colours and materials, but these are young, fresh and edgy.
Make design variations. In fact, version 2.0 already exists, with different bench design. And we will continue to look for different chairs, as well.
Designing the first idea took about one hour. After that, we spent about two months solving problems and making the prototypes.
I followed an inspiration. This was my first piece with upholstery. For a long time, I was afraid of design chairs and sofas. This piece has a compromise. The chairs are not mine, only the concept of a new interpretation.
The idea is to produce with other partners. As I said, the chairs are not mine; they are produced by Portuguese factories and I change them and adapt them to my piece.
As all Emotional Objects, it´s a fun piece that can bring joy to those who use it.
Chairs always fascinated me, mostly the classics from the first half of the 20th-century. Until now, I don´t understand how designers were so forward-thinking in those days. It also happens in architecture and engineering; they were extraordinary and bold. Designing this piece was the way of paying tribute to them. Not copying as we see a lot, that is unforgivable.
It´s more suitable for commercial and hospitality projects.
I never saw anything like this, frankly. I love the idea of changing things, mixing and matching objects, colours, materials, etc. In all our emotional objects I always create a lot of different choices, because people like to choose. Marketing experts would say that is a mistake, giving clients, many different choices, but I disagree.
It´s obvious. People can choose different chairs, up to six; different colours and fabrics; different combinations. This is all about personalization, mixing and matching as they like.
AutoCAD, always; 3D Studio and CAD/CAM tools, as well.
It´s its originality and versatility.
I had to speak with other Portuguese companies, discussing the chair's specifications. Besides that, I worked with all my suppliers - Laser-cutting, welding, carpenters and others.
In fact, it has! We have included a USB charger for phones and tablets. Many times, when we are waiting in airports or for meetings, we need to charge our phone. This can happen while you are seated in the Mix & Match.
We are not so analytical; we are more emotional. We haven´t done any research for designing this object.
In fact, adapting the chairs to our designs was a challenge. All the chairs had to have the certifications for contract and hospitality projects, saying that we couldn´t only look for a good design chair, we had to combine the two requirements. Beautiful chairs, with fabric options, but also with certifications. Besides that, the large bench has to support the weight of up to five users and that is not easy to solve. But it´s solved.
Because in the end, we realize we have achieved a nice design piece. The concept was tested during the Valencia 2019 trade show, last September, and it was a huge success. People stopped by our booth, seating, changing chairs between them and having a lot of fun. That was the time we decided to go further and submit the piece into this contest.
I lost the fear of seating category. Since that time, I already drew two more different pieces.
I would like to add that this product, like all others, is made in Portugal, by Portuguese artisans, respecting the best practices of social responsibility.