Students reinterpret the spindle back chair at the Furniture Fair

25 students from the School of Engineering at Jönköping University (JU) are reinterpreting the spindle back chair at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 6-10 February.

“It is very difficult to reinvent the spindle back chair, but I think we have succeeded,” says the student and project manager Vesna Paun.

Their chairs made an impression on, among others, the well-known architect Gert Wingårdh.

The students study the second year of the Product Development with Furniture Design programme, which is located at Träcentrum in Nässjö. In groups, they have made five reinterpretations of the spindle back chair, which they are exhibiting at the Stockholm Furniture Fair. They have been working with the chairs since the end of October and Vesna Paun thinks that all groups have succeeded very well in the task. She mentions innovative elements such as hexagon-shaped legs, metal parts and sheepskin on some of the chairs. Her group has made a three-seater spindle back sofa in elm, which they want people to feel and experience something different from when they see it.

“We wanted to create something that not only meets functional needs, but that attracts attention and contributes to an aesthetic and sensory experience,” says Vesna Paun.

Visit by Gert Wingårdh

Vesna and her classmates think it's fun to meet industry people at the Stockholm Furniture Fair and hear what their thoughts on the chairs.

“It is very rewarding to get that response and to explain how we thought when we manufactured our chairs. Gert Wingårdh (well-known Swedish architect) came to our stand and said that we had done a good job and that he particularly liked our spindle back sofa called Halo. He enjoyed that it was inspired by the rings around the sun and he liked the name. He thought that solid wood was a big trend at this year's fair and that was also the case for our chairs. It was very cool to meet him, and the furniture fair is generally a good place to make new contacts,” says Vesna Paun.

Her classmate Neliah Saadat sees Stockholm Furniture Fair as a great way to learn and take part in all the creativity and creative joy that can be found there.

“Monochrome is definitely a trend this year and lots of colour,” she says.

Also Milan Design Week

Victor Strandgren, programme manager, thinks they have an exciting concept at the Furniture Fair which includes a large, arched wall where all information and graphics are displayed as a light animation.

“We hope that this will show the ability of our creative students both in terms of concepts and ideas as well as practical and digital creation,” he says.

Several of the JTH students will also exhibit the spindle back chairs and sofas at the Superdesign Show 2024 during Milan Design Week in April.

“It will be great fun! It is a very big deal for us, and I hardly thought it would happen, but Victor (Strandgren) solved it somehow,” says Vesna Paun.

Read more about Stockholm Furniture Fair here

Here you can se more pictures of the students spindle back chairs and sofas Opens in new window.