If you could sit on a painting, would you? YuoNing Chien presents the Connexion Collection for 808: Studio. The Milan-based designer focuses on playful incarnations of graphic design and minimalism with the beauty of small, regular, and repetitive connections on full display. This makes them easy on the eyes satisfying our inclination for symmetry.
“Our fascination with the unique languages and reasons behind each framing system is the concept of the collection, a painting that you can sit on,” Chien says. The simplicity and harmony of the interaction between the base and seat is understated, yet feels secure. There’s an unadorned quality to the form, which speaks to its clarity and confidence – a visibly sturdy shape with a beautiful handmade cushion atop to heighten and adorn the seat.
Intuitive Materiality
The construction is simple, yet incredibly strong. Half-lap joints create a super secure grid with small divots for the cushion to rest perfectly within the setting. The structure is made of solid oak, which adds enough weight to the piece without it becoming overly cumbersome in construction. The lap joints also provide for intuitive assembly and disassembly, without the need for any hardware or tools.
In an era of overconsumption and materialism, the allure of something that is made simply, well, and beautifully, by thoughtful people, can be overwhelming at times. The Connexion Collection aims to honor those concepts through a graphic, gridded solution.
Warp + Weft
Fabric construction techniques used for millennia inform the language seen here in the interaction between the cushion and stool. The gridded base seems to continue seamlessly into the cushion, almost forming a stitch-like junction between the two forms. This translates beautifully throughout the stool, from the cushion fabric to the base construction.
The grid created by the base is cleverly replicated in the form language of the cushion fabric. The cloth, a Chinese handwoven ramie, is sourced from the master artisans of Chongqing. This handmade broadcloth nods to the ecological significance of hand weaving in Chinese culture, celebrating the fabric’s unique blend of softness and strength. This specific linen has a bit of texture, yet is very durable and will last for years to come.
The Collection comes in three different sizes, Small, Medium, and Large, with a selection of hand-dyed cushion colors. This custom hand-dyeing process ensures that each hue remains true and regular, while also preserving traditional techniques still used within the local community.
For more information on the Connexion Collection, visit yuoning.com or email [email protected].
Photography by Agota Lukyte.
