Richard Hutten Contributes to the Rethink Softly Project
Amy Duong — February 3, 2025 — Art & Design
A number of sustainability-focused designers including Lilian van Daal and Richard Hutten have contributed to the Rethink Softly project originally by Rianne Koens. It is dedicated to forming seating that does not use polyurethane foam. The project kicked off to inspire the industry to reduce the use of the material.
Rianne Koens explains, "The clients of Deberenn are mostly projects. Projects do not need fluffy, bulky soft seating. There we can go very minimalistic. A product giving you enough comfort for 50 minutes is doing a perfect job. Many companies are trying now to replicate or to work with alternative foams in the same traditional way we're creating our soft seating now. But if you're going to be much higher in price, you can't compete and it's not a solution."
Image Credit: Richard Hutten, Rianne Koens, Lilian van Daal
Rianne Koens explains, "The clients of Deberenn are mostly projects. Projects do not need fluffy, bulky soft seating. There we can go very minimalistic. A product giving you enough comfort for 50 minutes is doing a perfect job. Many companies are trying now to replicate or to work with alternative foams in the same traditional way we're creating our soft seating now. But if you're going to be much higher in price, you can't compete and it's not a solution."
Image Credit: Richard Hutten, Rianne Koens, Lilian van Daal
Trend Themes
1. Minimalistic Seatings - Reducing bulk in seating design offers a sustainable approach by prioritizing comfort over unnecessary material use.
2. Alternative Foam Materials - Exploration of alternative materials to polyurethane foam invites innovation in creating eco-friendly yet comfortable seating.
3. Sustainable Design Collaborations - Collaborations among designers focused on sustainability inspire collective movements toward environmentally conscious furniture development.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Design - The furniture design industry stands to benefit from innovations in material science for creating sustainable seating options.
2. Material Science - Advancements in material science unlock possibilities for developing new materials that provide comfort without environmental harm.
3. Project-based Furniture Solutions - The project-based furniture solutions industry can capture market share by offering sustainable, minimalistic designs tailored to client needs.
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