Exocet: Revolutionizing Furniture Design

Stéphane Leathead's Award-Winning Multifunctional Chair

Leathead's inspiration for the Exocet chair came from a series of questions challenging the status quo of furniture design. He sought to create a long chair that offered more than three back positions, could rock, and was made of minimal pieces. His obsession with using a single basic shape to allow an efficient fabrication process led to the creation of the Exocet chair.

What sets the Exocet apart is its unique and clever design that allows transformation to achieve the desired shape. Crafted from a single main piece, a slat, the chair is assembled around a cylinder that allows a 360˚ rotation. Once the desired configuration is obtained, the user simply tightens the handle to lock the chair into position. This innovative design approach allows the Exocet to transition from a standard chair to a double lounge chair or a hammock-style rocker.

The Exocet chair is made of Baltic Birch and Aluminium, materials chosen for their durability and aesthetic appeal. The chair's dimensions vary depending on its configuration, but in its standard chair configuration, it measures 660 mm in width, 1524 mm in length, and 1220 mm in height. Despite its versatility, the Exocet maintains a sleek and elegant design, embodying the "less is more" philosophy.

Leathead's design process involved extensive research to ensure maximum comfort through the various possible positions. The shape of the slat was a key element in this research. Technical challenges included finding a solution to limit friction as much as possible and selecting the proper material to produce the cylinder and handles to avoid deterioration.

The Exocet chair was first publicly exhibited in Toronto at the Interior Design Show in January 2015, following its conception in July 2014. Since then, it has been lauded for its innovative concept and ergonomic design. The Golden A' Design Award it received is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. These are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.

In conclusion, Stéphane Leathead's Exocet chair is a shining example of how design and functionality can coexist harmoniously. It is a testament to the power of innovative thinking and the potential of design to transform our daily lives. With its unique properties and award-winning design, the Exocet chair is indeed a new kind of chair for all kinds of moments.