Entry Title: " Echo Lounge "
Name: Carlos Fierro, United States
Category: Professional, Other|Product Design


Entry Description:

Project History The Echo Lounge, an ergonomic and echo-friendly lounge chair, is part of a series of design explorations involving the home environment and user experience. The Echo Lounge was introduced at the ICFF in New York City in May of 2008. Design Criteria The Echo Lounge explores the relationship between fabrication, dematerialization, user, space, and the furniture experience while seeking to engage and surprise the user with dynamic spatial interaction. The piece is 100% recyclable and can be easily disassembled as it does not rely on any fasteners. The lounge chair is a customizable piece that offers a variety of individual ergonomic options that ensure a more comfortable experience. Details: Components The Echo Lounge was developed with two main goals: * To engage the user through an organic language and customizable components. * To produce a piece of furniture inspired by the âDematerializationâ concept, creating a highly responsive, structural piece with low material consumption and a clean production process. User experience The Echo Loungeâs permeable visual edge creates a fluid relationship between the chair and its environment. Thick pieces of felt can be inserted at the neck, lower back or other areas, allowing users to customize the seating according to their own needs. The chair slides into two positions for active and passive relaxing . Production The material elements were produced in a non-residual manufacturing process: steel, wood and felt were cut by a high pressure water jet machine. Wood slats slip into the metal frame; the chair does not use fasteners allowing for quicker and faster assembly and disassembling line. Recycling The chairâs parts and components can be taken apart and its materials separated with little labor, facilitating reuse and recycling of the elements. The notched slip system enables both the assembling and recycling process. Maintenance The wool felt inserts can be removed, washed, and reinserted. Materials * Wood slats: 1/4" Formaldehyde-free plywood. * Steel frame * Pads: Industrial 100% wool felt 100% wool * Bushings: Nylon * Finish: water base polyurethane clear coat.

Carlos Fierro is a Chilean Industrial designer and visual artist based in New York, USA. His work explores new territories in user experience, social context and contemporary rituals. He has relevant experience in sculpture, installation and visual art, product design, design of public space, environments and museum exhibitions.