Dutch designer Lilian van Daal has created a prototype chair that is inspired by plant cells.The idea behind the chair is to make furniture production as eco-friendly as possible by 3D printing a chair using only a single sheet of material. Most chairs are made using multiple types of material, including foam and wood. Additionally, since multiple types of materials are used, manufacturing usually takes place in multiple locations. All of this equals a lot of carbon emissions and wasted material just to make a single chair.
Van Daal's design was inspired by plant cells, which have a three-dimensional shape. In addition to their unique shape, the cells also provide the support a plant needs to stay upright. The chair was made using polyamide, but the designer is looking into using a different type of material that is more biologically sustainable. The 3D printer looks as though it's here to stay, and it likely won't be long before designs like Lilian van Daal's become the norm.
Flexible Cellular Seating
Lilian Van Daal's 3D-Printed Chair is Inspired by Plant Cells
Trend Themes
1. Eco-friendly Furniture - The trend towards eco-friendly furniture production opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in materials and manufacturing processes.
2. Single Material Design - Designing furniture using a single sheet of material presents disruptive innovation opportunities for reducing waste and simplifying production.
3. Biologically Sustainable Materials - The use of biologically sustainable materials in furniture design offers disruptive innovation opportunities for creating environmentally friendly products.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - The furniture manufacturing industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by adopting eco-friendly production methods and materials.
2. 3D Printing - The 3D printing industry can leverage the trend towards single material furniture design to develop innovative printing techniques and materials.
3. Sustainable Design - The sustainable design industry can benefit from the demand for biologically sustainable materials in furniture production and create innovative solutions.