Crisscross Oche Mpịaji by Cameron Smith is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz in Nhazi Ngwá Ụlọ Competition Category.

BronzNgwá Ụlọ· 2023

Crisscross Oche Mpịaji

by Cameron Smith

Client: Cameron Smith

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz Winner in Ngwá Ụlọ Category

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The Design

About Crisscross Oche Mpịaji

Crisscross bụ oche mpịaji e chepụtara maka ojiji kwa ụbọchị. Ọtụtụ oche mpịaji na-adị mfe n'ibu ma bụrụ ndị e mere maka ojiji nwa oge, ha na-ada ada n'ihe gbasara ogo mma na urukwu. Crisscross na-enye ohere ọdụ mgbanwe na-emeghị ka ọ dahie n'ogo mma. Oche a na-apịakọta ka enwee ike ichekwa ya ma ọ bụ bugharịa ya n'ime ọnụ ụlọ ọzọ. Ngwa e ji arụ ọrụ nke ezoro n'ime ụkwụ azụ na-emepụta mmegharị jikọrọ ọnụ n'etiti oche na ụkwụ ya. Ọ nweghị njikọ ọ bụla a na-ahụ anya, nke mere na ụdịdị ya na-adịgide mfe. Mgbe a pịakọtara ya, oche ahụ dum na-abanye n'ime ụkwụ ihu ya. A na-eji igwe mpempe agbagọ arụ ugbugbo oche a, jiri osisi a kpokwara na uzuoku dozie ya n'ime ya.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz

Crisscross Oche Mpịaji meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị pụtara ìhè nke a ma ama maka nzụlite ihe, ọgụgụ isi na nghọta. Ndị meriri na Bronz bụ ihe e mere nke ndị nwere nka nke ukwuu ma dị mma n'imepụta nke na-egosi ahụmahụ buru ibu, echiche na ọgụgụ isi nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Crisscross Oche Mpịaji ga-abụ ihe a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz na-agụnye ụzọ kacha mma n'ime nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ, ma dị mma nke ukwuu maka nlebara anya ya n'obere ihe. Crisscross Oche Mpịaji na-emezu mkpa nke ọma, na-emetụ ọchịchọ aka, na-adọrọ mmetụta obi ma na-adọta ọchịchọ ịmara.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Most folding chairs are designed to be lightweight and portable for temporary use and give up quality, comfort and appeal. The Crisscross chair provides flexible seating without sacrificing quality. Designed as an everyday use chair, the Crisscross chair folds so it can be stored or easily relocated to another room. A geared mechanism concealed within the back leg creates a synchronized motion with the seat and legs. When folded, the entire chair nests within the front legs making it easy to relocate to another room or store for another time.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions - Open
23” x 23.75” x 34.5”
585mm x 600mm x 875mm

Dimensions - Folded
23” x 8” x 41.5”
585mm x 200mm x 1,055mm
Tags: folding chair, chair, dining chair
Production Technology: The Crisscross chair frame is fabricated from bent sheet steel and machined steel parts welded and finished. Wood inlays are steam bent and fit to the exterior sides of the front and back legs. Pads on the seat and backrest are finished in Alcantara ultra suede and adhered to the frame.
Design Challenge: Because the Crisscross chair was to be used as an everyday chair, the folding mechanism needed to be concealed and the design needed to stand apart from the operation of the chair. Most folding chairs have visible folding mechanisms which lead someone to believe the chair is for temporary use. The Crisscross geared mechanism is completely concealed inside the back leg and there are no visible linkages to distract from the simple form. The simple design appears to be a static design when opened. When closed the entire chair nests inside the front legs.
Research: The concept of a folding chair designed to be an every day chair is a new category. Most folding chairs are for temporary use and are lightweight and easy to move. The Crisscross changes the paradigm of folding chairs to create a substantial every day chair that has the ability to fold and be moved from one area to another. Research was done on existing folding chairs and a variety of dining chairs to analyze whether people would accept an every day use chair with added mechanics for folding. Rather than ask people if they wanted a folding dining chair, a questionnaire asked more about a person's lifestyle and if they had a dining table that expanded for larger capacity. Users questioned could see the need for an every day dining chair that had the ability to fold and store or simply have a chair that was easy to transport in moves.
Inspiration: People are living in smaller, more flexible spaces and deserve a chair that flexes with them. Many dining tables expand and contract to accommodate different size settings, yet most dining chairs aren’t easily stored when not in use. This forces people to use mix matched chairs for larger settings or find a place to store extra chairs with smaller groups. Folding chairs, although easy to store, aren't designed for everyday use and lack the quality and design people desire for a formal sitting.
Project Duration: The chair was initially conceived and designed in March 2020. Engineering began in fall of 2021 and the first chairs were released May 2022 at ICFF in New York.
Operation Flow: Operation of the folding mechanism is simple. Depressing the buttons under the armrest allows the armrests to be lowered to the leg. Once the armrests are lowered the chair can be tilted on the front legs and the seat folded into the front legs. The back legs are geared with the seat so the chair folds in a synchronous motion.
Image Credits: Photography: Meagan West