Throne - 2021
1ST PLACE: ANSHUL PRAJAPATI, UPANJE CHAIR, INDIA
When I think of Kočevski forest, the most primitive thing that comes to mind are trees with wide trunks and branches. It takes years of steady growth to become a huge tree, but it only takes a few hours to cut down this tree. It must be devastating for a tree to experience that its years of growth were in vain. But if we observe the tree for a week, new branches and leaves begin to grow from its stump. For people who feel lost even after putting in a lot of hard work, these trees are a reminder of hope even after failure. The central seating area resembles the stump of a felled tree, while the surrounding elements are newly grown branches. These branches can be seen from the side as if they protrude from the stump and gradually grow and shoot small branches. The manufacturing material is oak wood. The design is simple, requiring simple tools. The seat has a minimalist design, and the branches are stick structures connected together. The branches also act as a structure to attach scarves, umbrellas, pet leashes, coats, bags or other things. You can also attach balloons, ribbons and other decorations to make the chair stand out on special days. These chairs are best suited for outdoor dining and outdoor restaurants.
2ND PLACE: PETER JOLYON WALL, FAEL FOLDING CHAIR, CANADA
The concept is that the chair hangs flat on the wall and in this form provides some abstract visual connection with the canopy, trees and leaves, while all the while building the connection by paying homage to the microstructure of the leaf. Seven hinges would join four pieces of cut plywood together in a collapsible configuration that, as simple as it is, almost certainly must have been made before. While the idea came obviously as an original thought, the concept is presented not for its mechanism, but as a new design of a four-legged stool - for what it brings to the design of a seating object that can give its character.
3RD PLACE: JOHN ELMAR RAVIDAS, MINDCRAFT CHAIR, PHILIPPINES
The future belongs to those who imagine. If you were given a box of chopsticks, what would you do with it? I'd say I'll look up the instructions and start building with them from scratch. What if you just get a map to start with? Hard, right? Curiosity breeds creativity. Because art is part of our human nature, we explore and play with what we are given. The Mindcraft chair wants to explore your creativity in endless possibilities. The wooden chair, whose shape is dictated by the user's ingenuity, is essential in paving the way for an inclusive and fun future. A pixel is just a unit, but with the letter "s" it becomes two-dimensional or even three-dimensional in ways you can imagine. Inspired by the infinite possibilities of pixels, Mindcraft can be made in a variety of shapes. So with Mindcraft you have playful legs that change to your shape, you have an interactive puzzle seat that lets you decide what to paint, and most importantly, you have a chair to sit on whenever you need a boost of positivity . All pieces are created from 3 shades of hardwood in a smooth finish and assembled through wood joinery for modularity. Tempered glass is also used as a surface and seat. Each part is guaranteed to fit in a deep box. Woods not talking, what more for chairs? Mindcraft creates a relationship with you, creating, communicating and exploring!