1282 Chair, 2023. Stainless steel. Photo credit: Huw Morris-Jones
Serra Bassa
The 1282 chair embodies contemporary design inspired by Welsh stick chairs, emphasizing the value of historical and cultural influences in design strategy. Triggered by the manifesto "Beyond the new" by Hella Jongerius and Louise Schouwenberg, Davies integrated his heritage into modern design through deep exploration of Welsh history, especially stick chairs. The chair's foundation stems from stick chairs' naturally curved arms, shaping its design and dimensions. This design approach tackles modern ergonomic challenges, using the unique arm height of traditional stick chairs. Metal was chosen over wood due to its distinctiveness and suitability, influenced by Davies' experience with sheet metal at Studio Phil Procter. Stainless steel enhances the chair's modern edge, durability, and longevity. To avoid replication, comprehensive historical research underpinned the project, driving innovation in arm height, as well as material and process efficiency.
At the end of the project the designer was left with one final thought: What else is there to be learned from the past? What rich themes, narratives, materials or processes are waiting to be re-discovered?
Guto Davis. Photo credit: Huw Morris-Jones
Guto Davis is a young Welsh designer who graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2023. His approach to design is grounded in the principles of simplicity and honesty, both in terms of appearance and functionality. By taking a hands-on and experimental approach, I am able to optimize the use of materials and manufacturing processes, resulting in designs that are both efficient and effective.