Butterfly Aircraft Seat by James Lee is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 Silver A' Design Award in Vehicle, Mobility and Transportation Design Competition Category.
SilverVehicle· 2020
Butterfly Aircraft Seat
by James Lee
Client: Butterfly Flexible Seating Solutions Limited
Silver A' Design Award Winner in Vehicle Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #88997The Design
About Butterfly Aircraft Seat
Butterfly is a flexible aircraft seating system that allows transformation between premium economy seats and business class flatbed suites. Each Butterfly suite contains two reclining seats staggered relative to each other, and both seats together are sold as premium economy. Cabin crew can flip the window seat over to form a side couch, creating a business class suite for one passenger. Flipping the aisle seat as well creates a large flat surface for sleeping. The system lets operators adjust the cabin to changing demand and use floor space efficiently.
The Recognition
About the Silver A' Design Award
Butterfly Aircraft Seat is a Silver A' Design Award winner, an extraordinarily prestigious recognition granted to top-of-the-line, gorgeous, and impressive designs. Silver winners are tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative works that illustrate the outstanding expertise, talent, and acuity of their designers. Butterfly Aircraft Seat is expected to be a wonderful, showpiece work that is remarkably professional and profoundly innovative. This Silver A' Design Award-winning design is a highly notable, admired invention that benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Butterfly Aircraft Seat is a vastly envied creation that evokes desires, introduces positive feelings, and sparks amazement and wonderment.
Where to Get It
Flexible Aircraft Seating Solutions
We revolutionize aircraft cabin efficiency with patented flexible seating that instantly transforms between premium economy and business class. Our innovative systems help airlines adapt to real-time demand, maximize revenue, and enhance passenger experience through configurable spaces.
Contact UsBehind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Butterfly is a flexible aircraft seating system that allows instant transformation between premium economy and business class flatbed suites. The concept enables operators to adjust their cabin configuration to real-time market changes, allowing them to make efficient use of valuable floor-space, increase aircraft utilization and reduce business risk. It also gives passengers new ways to configure their own space, whether it is a cosy private retreat or a family-friendly social space.
- Tags
- Aircraft Seating, Flexibility, Transform, Airline, Business class, Premium Economy
- Inspiration
- Demand is never constant, yet aircraft configurations are usually fixed. As a passenger, I often noticed wasted space on flights. Sometimes economy class is overbooked but business class is rather empty, sometimes the opposite occurs. And as someone who have once worked in an airline, I reckon the need for an adaptable seat that can react to changing market demand. The implication to the operational efficiency is transformative, much like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.
- Project Duration
- The project started in 2014 in Hong Kong and is still ongoing.
- Operation Flow
- Each Butterfly suite is made of two reclining seats staggered relative to each other. When both seats are used, they are sold as premium economy class. Airline crew can flip the window seat over to form a side couch, which turns it into a long-haul business class suite for one passenger. When the aisle seat is flipped over as well, it forms a flat surface continuous with the side couch, which together forms a large sleeping surface long enough for a passenger to lie flat diagonally.
- Patents
- Patented
- Team Members
- James Lee
Vincent Tam
Lars Rinne
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
