Wingback was inspired by traditional 17th century Wingback and balloon-back archetypes, and was developed for Shoreditch House Members Club. Its expressive sweeping curves allows designers to specify Wingback in the centre of spaces as a sculptural intervention rather than merely a piece of seating. The wings provide convenient acoustic protection for mobile phone use and a headrest for quick snoozes.
Successful products tend to have a strong and distinctive silhouette and will do a double job, working as a sculpture at the same time as a practical piece of furniture.
More about Wingback
Inspired by the traditional 17th century Wingback and balloon-back archetypes, first prototyped as one of several British club chairs destined for the infamous Shoreditch House Members Club - a place where fun and work, drinking and eating merge seamlessly.
The original idea was to design 6 contemporary mismatching archetypical club chairs, full size silhouettes were sketched on oversize bits of wallpaper and cardboard maquettes cobbled up with glue guns before being prototyped by master upholsterer George Smith. The Wingback was the clear winner and made its debut in 2007, remastered for maximum comfort and engineered efficiency.
In 2015, the range was re-engineered and refined to give it an even more rakish silhouette, the ergonomics adjusted for more comfort and the manufacturing process modernised and moved to Europe – a metal frame, moulded hard foam, pocket sprung seat. A dining chair is added to the collection.
In 2017, 10 years on, the Wingback took an Alice in Wonderland shrinking position. It was re-scaled for the home and our increasingly confined spaces to make the Micro Wingback.
Wingback's recognisable silhouette is formed through a hard sculptural foam shell concealing a steel frame with modelled plywood base. It is then covered with cut foam and given a pocket-sprung seat cushion for maximum comfort. In 2015 we evolved the production process to maximise the potential for usability, making it lighter overall and increase the comfort factor.