Trace: A Dining Chair Redefining Comfort and Style

Mark Daniel's Award-Winning Design Blends Functionality and Aesthetics

Mark Daniel's Trace chair began as an exercise in contour sketching, where the outline of an object is drawn in a continuous line without lifting the pencil. This single line was translated into a steel wire frame, becoming the design's main feature. The 180-degree bend at the feet, the bowing of the crossbar under the seat, and the arch at the back that acts as an integral handle all contribute to the chair's unique aesthetic. The minimal profile of the chair is complemented by a leather sling seat and back.

What sets the Trace apart is its unique properties. It is a stackable dining chair designed for use in both home and contract environments. The chair is constructed of a solid, steel wire frame that supports a stitched, reinforced leather seat and back sling. The slings flex to provide a comfortable, supportive seat that adjusts to the user. The chair features an integral handle at the back for easy mobility, and stacks efficiently with the addition of custom moulded foam pads under the seat to prevent rubbing wear.

The cold-rolled steel wire frame is bent into shape using tooling developed for the specific radii required of the design. The frame is available in a variety of epoxy powder coat finishes. The top grain leather sling seat and back are reinforced by a secondary layer of fabric chosen to reduce the stretching and lengthen the life of the leather. The chair measures 54.5cm wide, 83.5cm tall, and 55cm deep and meets the testing protocol ANSI/BIFMA X5.1-2011 for contract seating.

The design of the Trace chair started in January 2016 and went into production in October of the same year. The research that went into this design was born of experience in the seating market and understanding and capitalizing on the capabilities of the manufacturer. The biggest challenge of this project was sourcing a top grain leather that was thick enough to withstand use, but still felt soft to the touch. Key to this was the addition of a reinforcing fabric substrate to extend the life of the leather by stabilizing the amount of stretch.

The Trace is a stackable dining chair designed for use in home and contract environments. It is constructed of a solid, steel wire frame that supports a stitched, reinforced leather seat and back sling. The slings flex to provide a comfortable, supportive seat that adjusts to the user. The chair features an integral handle at the back for easy mobility, and stacks efficiently with the addition of custom moulded foam pads under the seat to prevent rubbing wear.

The Trace chair was awarded Silver in A' Furniture Design Award in 2017. The Silver A' Design Award is rewarded to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.