Posted by sabine7
Interview | 13 Sep 07 | Comments (5) | Stumble
When we first met Erin Hayne and Nuno Gonçalves Ferreira at ICFF 2 years ago, we were impressed by their colour-changing floor tiles. Since then Visual Reference Studio has been working on a line of furniture that uses the thermochromatic technology first used in those tiles. The Swamp Collection fuses the thermochromatic material with soft organic forms, so that sitting on the Swamp bench lounge, Duckweed bench or Cypress stool will leave a temporary impression, in terms of colour change. These are sure to be the most popular seats in the house.
What led you to create your thermochromatic line?
From the beginning it was our intention to make work that interacts with the body and embraces the senses. We live in a society that discourages touch and treats it as taboo, yet touch is a fundamental part of the human experience. Integrating thermochromatics into these pieces gives people a chance to use touch in a creative, expressive way. We wanted to create an object with a sense of humor; something that made people smile, laugh, and come together.
The world is already full of 'stuff' – as designers, why do you choose to create more?
It’s true. The world already has lots of stuff, including plenty of amazing objects. But, life is richer when you’re surrounded by what you love and what brings you positive energy. If you think of something that can enhance life in this way, making it has a legitimate purpose. For us, it’s about making things that remind us that we are alive and that life is to be experienced.
cool photo: tape says it all...please touch, fantastic detail of the faces - looks like the designers have a lot of fun too.
These are the dopest chairs. I saw them at the Javits Show in NYC and everyone was blown away. The only thing cooler than these color-changing chairs are the people who make them-Erin and Nuno rule!
Are they chairs or mushrooms covered in leather? I like them.
Are these guys coming to Paris?
MR/Paris, France
http://lalandedigitalpress.blogspot.com/
I'm [almost] never negative about things posted here, but I have to say these are silly--they're like toys a kid gets and then is tired of in 5 minutes. I have a thermochromatic down jacket. It's nice and warm, but the novelty quickly wore off. What I do like--and like very much--is the great fun Erin and Nuno had making these chairs. (Chairs? Ottomans?)
^^^^^^
I think part of their idea is bringing out the child in you. Most likely they are depending on the fact that adults get tired of "things" in a longer period of time than kids do. People do change their furniture, some in 2 years some in 12 years.
I'd love to have something like that in my apartment -- as narcissistic it may sound, I'd love to see my reflection on a furniture once in a while :)