Butterfly 飞机座椅 by James Lee is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award 银奖 in 车辆、出行与交通设计 Competition Category.

银车辆· 2020

Butterfly 飞机座椅

by James Lee

Client: Butterfly Flexible Seating Solutions Limited

A' Design Award 银奖 Winner in 车辆 Category

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Verified Award Winner
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The Design

About Butterfly 飞机座椅

Butterfly是一款灵活的飞机座椅系统，可在超级经济舱座椅与商务舱平躺套间之间自由转换。每个Butterfly套间包含两个相互错位交错布置的可倾斜座椅，两个座椅一同以超级经济舱形式售出。客舱乘务员可将靠窗座椅翻转，形成侧向坐榻，从而为一位乘客打造出商务舱套间；若将靠走道座椅一同翻转，则可形成宽大的平整睡眠平面。该系统使航空运营商能够根据需求变化灵活调整客舱布局，并高效利用地板空间。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 银奖

Butterfly 飞机座椅是 A' Design Award 银奖得主，这是授予顶级、华美而令人印象深刻的设计的极为崇高的认可。银奖得主是极其卓越、极具创造力的作品，展现出其设计师杰出的专业技能、才华与敏锐。预计Butterfly 飞机座椅将成为一件出色的典范之作，兼具非凡的专业性与深刻的创新性。这件赢得 A' Design Award 银奖的设计是一项备受瞩目、令人钦佩的发明，造福并拓展艺术、科学、设计和技术的边界。Butterfly 飞机座椅是一件令人羡慕的创作，它唤起渴望，带来积极的情感，并激发惊叹与赞叹。

Behind 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