Decker 折疊椅 by Cameron Smith is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 傢俱設計 Competition Category.

鐵傢俱· 2022

Decker 折疊椅

by Cameron Smith

Client: Furniture Smith

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 傢俱 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #137461

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Colors

The Design

About Decker 折疊椅

Decker係一張專為遊艇設計嘅摺疊椅。呢張椅打開時係一張矮身躺椅,摺埋之後就變成一個淨係得100毫米厚嘅扁平形態。椅架採用不鏽鋼製造,配以梯形管材同鑄造接頭,喺樞軸位置用黃銅五金件連接。柚木條並唔係固定喺椅架上,而係綁喺織帶上面,令座位同靠背可以隨住使用者身體郁動而屈曲。一個過中心結構喺椅子打開嗰陣令織帶保持張力。座椅框架上有一段凹位形成手挽位,摺埋之後啲椅腳靠磁石固定。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Decker 折疊椅是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Decker 折疊椅將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Decker 折疊椅因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

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