Dream Seats: Three Designers Rethink the Airline Seat
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If interior or industrial designers could create passenger airline seats, what would they do? We asked three designers to sketch their dream airline seat and then asked illustrator Óscar Chávez to reinterpret them for the March/April issue of APEX Experience.
The Linda Chair
Amanda Forrest, Design and Lifestyle Expert, Media Personality | Amanda Forrest Design
My chair would be black because it’s effortlessly chic and would never clash with passengers’ outfits. Each seat would come with a toss cushion and throw that would be switched out seasonally for whatever is on trend. For spring, why not a soft pink. There would be two armrests for each guest, none of this sharing business. They would be padded for comfort and finished with a cup holder for convenience. Reminiscent of a classic dome chair, the headrest would be shaped to give passengers both privacy and comfort. The chair back would include a minibar and the seat would be facing the window so passengers could sip wine and daydream.
“My chair would be black because it’s effortlessly chic and would never clash with passengers’ outfits.”
Ascend Lounge Chair
Alykhan Velji, Principal | Alykhan Velji Designs
The inspiration behind this chair was to make it more like a lounge chair than a seat. Custom black metal screenings contribute to this look and feel. A deeper and lower seat, higher back, make for a more comfortable sitting experience for travel. I took inspiration from midcentury design aesthetics for the chair, as I feel it is a classic style that really epitomizes luxury and high style. Adjustable headrest with cognac leather upholstery and button tufting. In black metal, the back of the chair includes a screen with custom overlay, a leather pouch and a Makassar ebony tray with leather straps.
“A deeper and lower seat, higher back, make for a more comfortable sitting experience for travel.”
Su
Mitz Takahashi, Furniture Designer and Maker | Mitz Takahashi
The seat would be light grey, light navy or light pastel green. Something that is not too powerful and overwhelming. I would choose fabric without a pattern, probably something very subtle like tweed. For the cushion, I would use recycled materials, also memory foam. I’d include several shapes of pillows and cushions that could be customized for each seat so passengers can make their own nest. A little personalization is great since everyone has different posture, body types and sizes. The armrest, like a padded couch armrest, would use softer material. Passengers can make the armrests wider by adding more cushions. The floor would have a tatami mat, which is a Japanese mat made from straw. It smells really nice and feels great on the feet.
“I’d include several shapes of pillows and cushions that could be customized for each seat so passengers can make their own nest.”
