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A case against boring designs
and the journey of shaping the future of digital beauty
This article explores the evolution of chair design, drawing parallels between historical principles and contemporary digital design while urging designers to rediscover and prioritise the often neglected aspect of beauty in their work with 10 practical steps.
From interesting chairs to boring grids
Why are there so many chairs out there? We see it almost anywhere in the human world, from our homes to public areas. Yet there are so many ways to enjoy a chair. That’s because history has given us an abundance of various designs.
The chair
And it’s not so much about determining the best functionality of sitting, which would be the main purpose of having a chair. Rather, according to art historian Agata Toromanoff, some chairs are made to explore new manufacturing methods or apply certain techniques. Other chairs “serve as a rite of passage,” like credentials for an audience. These chair designers are none other than architects and industrial designers. Though they may not necessarily have furniture design expertise, many of them do it anyway as a form of personal expression.
