Visual statement
Frans's hands-on design guarantees ergonomically comfortable designs that are also visually appealing. For him, it's all about intuition and instinct. ‘Designing, to me, is a matter of feeling,’ he says. 'In the design process, I leave all options open and do not impose any restrictions on myself. Sparky's organic shape supports the whole body, while the frame seamlessly follows its contours. Sparky's seat has a special design due to the curved edges that fold around the frame.' His design process starts with sketches that are elaborated in virtual reality. ‘VR gives us the chance to visualise the design in detail before moving on to a physical foam sample,’ he explains. ‘Only when all the details are perfect is the final mould made.’ The Sparky family offers much more than just seating comfort; it is a visual statement. ‘The flowing lines provide a comfortable seating experience, and the steel frame of this fluid model hugs the shell like an exoskeleton.’
Cross-industry
Sustainability is central to Satelliet’s vision and mission and is translated, among other things, into the SUM programme: Still Usable Materials. ‘With SUM, we give depreciated materials a second life by adding new value,’ Chris explains. 'Sparky is a perfect example of this. The organically shaped shell of this chair is made of recycled pet felt, a material normally used in the auto motive industry. To arrive at the most sustainable solutions, we look at materials and possibilities across industries. This PET felt is commonly used for hat boards of renowned car brands. Innovative techniques adapt this material for use in the hospitality and project market, without even a drop of glue. The material is pressed by heating, which makes the process extra durable. This field of tension between technology and design, pushing the boundaries of what is feasible, that is a nice challenge.'
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Versatile
‘The production process of the felt, similar to making candyfloss, creates unique colour effects and a strong structure,’ Chris explains enthusiastically. ‘As standard, the chair is available in blended grey, blue and soothing shades of green.’ Sparky is ideal for a variety of settings: from minimalist, modern restaurants to leisure concepts and sustainable office environments. ‘The chair thrives in any setting,’ adds Frans. ‘It depends on the architect and stylist how the chair is used, but its versatility makes it suitable for a diverse range of projects.’
Thinking ahead
While the Sparky family has only just seen the light of day, Frans is already thinking ahead. ‘I'm always working on the next step,’ he says. ‘We are working on extensions to the Sparky family and thinking about new features.’ For Frans, the design process never stops: ‘It's a continuous pursuit of improvement and innovation.’
