Menut's Thea: A Theatre Chair That Sparks Imagination

Revolutionizing Children's Furniture with Playful Design and Functionality

Everyday objects, such as home furniture, often serve as a canvas for children's boundless imagination. Menut's Thea theatre chair is a testament to this concept. Its design is inspired by the way children perceive and interact with furniture, transforming a simple chair into a stage for their creativity. The chair's unique feature lies in its back, which can be used as a stage. A drawer at the bottom, once opened, conceals the backside of the chair, providing some privacy for the 'puppeteer'. Inside the drawer, children will find finger puppets to stage shows with their friends.

Thea is not just a product of imaginative design but also of thoughtful craftsmanship. Made of plywood, the chair's lateral parts are cut by a numerical control process and finished with a natural varnish. The seat, back, and drawer parts are curved and lacquered to achieve the desired colour. The lid of the drawer is made of whiteboard, allowing children to paint and erase as many times as they want. The chair also includes textile finger puppets inside the drawer, adding to its playful appeal.

The design process of Thea was not without its challenges. The team had to find an easy way to transform the chair into a theatre and design the chair's curves considering production issues. Moreover, designing for children meant adhering to strict safety norms. The design had to be adapted to fit these norms without compromising the chair's aesthetic appeal. Despite these challenges, Menut successfully created a product that is both visually appealing and emotionally engaging for children and adults alike.

Thea's innovative design and functionality have not gone unnoticed. It was awarded the Golden A' Baby, Kids and Children's Products Design Award in 2013, a prestigious accolade granted to outstanding and trendsetting creations that advance art, science, design, and technology. The award recognizes the designer's prodigy and wisdom, and the product's extraordinary excellence and significant impact on the world.

Menut's Thea theatre chair is a shining example of how design can be used to stimulate children's imagination and make everyday objects more engaging. It is a testament to the studio's philosophy of offering an innovative vision on the lifestyle of a contemporary family. Thea is more than just a chair; it is a stage for children's creativity, a tool for learning, and a piece of furniture that brings joy to both children and adults.