One Good Chair Prototypes at Las Vegas

January 4, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Green on January 5, 2011

Chair prototypes from One Good Chair competition finalists will be on display at the Las Vegas Furniture Market, Jan. 24-28.

The 2010 theme "Minimum/Maximum" called on designers to demonstrate that smart design can not only minimize material consumption but also maximize comfort. Contest judges specifically looked for pieces that minimized material, production, shipping and assembly while maximizing comfort, utility, durability and beauty in the product.

This year's competition also will feature a People's Choice component, which will allow members of the furnishings industry to vote for their favorite chair design by visiting Las Vegas Furniture Market's homepage at lasvegasmarket.com. The general public and furniture aficionados are also encouraged to vote via HomeYet.com and socially through its fan pages on Facebook. The votes will then be tallied and two winners will be crowned at market, one chosen by the public and one chosen by the One Good Chair judging panel.

The finalists selected include:
* Eric Tong from the United Kingdom for his Zpine Lounge Chair.
* German team Pitt Berkemeyer and Georg Thesing, who designed the ELXE chair.
* Helena Bueno and Heinz Miller of the Baita Design Studio in Brazil for their Broom Chair.
* Juan Mercado from the United States, who designed the RE_Flex chair.
* Australian Tom Fereday for his Allt Chair design.

"All of the finalists epitomize what the Minimum/Maximum challenge is all about, not to mention, these designers hail from across globe bringing a fresh, universal perspective to the competition," said Margaret Casey, director of programming for World Market Center Las Vegas. "This was not an easy challenge and we received entries from literally all over the world. These designers should be very proud of their prototypes and their efforts to create a chair that is both appealing and sustainable."

The winner of the competition will be announced at a panel discussion and reception moderated by competition organizer and author of The Shape of Green Design, Lance Hosey, who is President and CEO of GreenBlue, a nonprofit that helps businesses make their products more sustainable. The reception will take place Wed., Jan. 26, 1-3 p.m.

Now in its third year, The One Good Chair competition is sponsored by the Sustainable Furnishings Council and the Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center Las Vegas. Other supporters of the 2010 competition include Metropolis magazine as a media partner and manufacturers Handy Living, the Phillips Collection and Weyerhaeuser serving as prototype production partners.