Decker Cathair Fhillte by Cameron Smith is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Duais Iarainn A' Design Award in Dealbhadh Àirneis Competition Category.

IarannÀirneis· 2022

Decker Cathair Fhillte

by Cameron Smith

Client: Furniture Smith

Duais Iarainn A' Design Award Winner in Àirneis Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Decker Cathair Fhillte

Is cathair fhillte í Decker atá deartha lena húsáid ar luingeas pléisiúir. Osclaíonn an chathair mar chathair lúí íseal agus filleann sí ina foirm chomhdhlúth nach bhfuil ach 100 milliméadar ar tiús. Tá an fráma déanta as cruach dhosmálta le píobán treaspaideach agus lugaí teilgthe, ceangailte le crua-earraí prás ag na pointí uainíochta. Tá slaitíní téice ceangailte de strapaí fite seachas leis an bhfráma, ionas go lúbann an suíochán agus an cúl leis an úsáideoir. Coinníonn céimseata thar-lár na strapaí faoi theannas nuair a bhíonn an chathair oscailte. Cruthaíonn eang i bhfráma an tsuíocháin lámh iompair, agus coinníonn maignéid na cosa fillte ina n-áit.

The Recognition

About the Duais Iarainn A' Design Award

Tha Decker Cathair Fhillte air Duais Iarainn A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean math a choinnicheas ris na riatanasan proifeiseanta is gnìomhachais a thathar a' sùileachadh bho chruthachaidhean a chaidh an dealbhadh gu math. Tha buannaichean Iarainn a' nochdadh sgil mhòr, speisealachadh àrd, tuigse eòlaiche agus comas cruthachail an luchd-cruthachaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi Decker Cathair Fhillte na chruthachadh air a bheil mòran meas, ion-mholta agus gràdhach a tha practaigeach agus ùr-ghnàthach. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Iarainn A' Design Award a' cur nan cleachdaidhean as fheàrr sa ghnìomhachas còmhla agus tha feartan teignigeach comasach aige ceangailte ri eòlas-dèanamh agus tàlant. Tha meas air Decker Cathair Fhillte airson a dhùrachd agus chaidh a dhealbhadh gus leasachaidhean càileachd beatha a thoirt seachad a chuidicheas le bhith a' dèanamh an t-saoghail na àite nas fheàrr.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Inspired by the need for quality compact furniture on yachts, the Decker folding yacht chair easily folds from a lounge chair to a compact form factor. Teak wood slats are secured to webbing straps rather than the stainless steel frame to provide flex and added comfort in the seat. A jog in the seat frame creates a handle when folded and allows the needed geometry for an over center design that keeps the webbing in tension and the backrest open while in use.

The teak seat and back slats are secured to webbing straps that run from the front of the seat to the top of the back. When unfolded, the unique over-center design provides tension on the straps holding the teak seat and back. The straps provide a secure seat that flexes and gives with the user.
Dimensions & Packaging: Open
660 mm wide x 730 mm deep x 673 mm tall
26” wide x 28.75” deep x 26.5” tall

Folded
660 mm wide x 570 mm deep x 100 mm thick
26” wide x 22.5” deep x 4” tall
Tags: folding chair, yacht chair
Production Technology: Materials common in yachts such as stainless steel, brass and teak are used in the Decker chair. The stainless steel frame is fabricated with trapezoidal tubing and cast lugs. The tubing and lugs are welded and finished to create a seamless frame. Brass hardware is used for pivot joints and fastening hardware. An optional pad with outdoor fabric withstands the elements encountered by yachts.
Design Challenge: The chair has a simple design, yet there were several challenges in the design. Creating tension in the webbing and teak slats through the over center design of the backrest required multiple prototypes and webbing materials to be tested. The simplicity of the pivots required design iterations to create surfaces that interact with each other while the chair was open and closed. These simple details become the highlight of the chair.
Research: A lower lounge chair was selected to aid the ability to fold and nest shorter legs. An ergonomic model was created that allowed for adjustment of the angle and height of the seat and back.. Adjusting the angles and length of the components allowed for the geometry to be tested by various users for maximum comfort.
Inspiration: There is not a lot of room on yachts, but they maintain a high desire to have flexible furniture that can be easily stowed when not in use. Plastic chairs or bulky furniture aren't at home on expensive yachts. The Decker folding yacht chair can be used on deck and easily stowed when needed.
Project Duration: Design completed January 2022 with prototype units completed March 2022 in Seattle, Washington USA.
Operation Flow: The folding chair is simple to use. To close the chair simply flip the backrest down onto the seat. The teak slats relax when folded as the webbing is no longer under tension. With the backrest folded, the chair can be picked up by the handle on the back of the seat frame. The front legs are then folded followed by the back legs. The legs are held in place by magnets embedded inside the tubing.

The same process is used to unfold the chair. First the legs are unfolded and the chair placed on the legs. The backrest is opened and the teak slats are tightened with the webbing is tightened.
Team Members: Cameron Smith
Adam Smith
Image Credits: photo - Cameron Smith