Case Study: The Panton Chair

Essential Idea:

Designs change as manufacturing techniques and materials develop

Introduction

First conceived by Verner Panton in 1960, the Panton Chair has become a classic of design. It was the first chair to be mass produced in plastic in a single piece. This came at a time when wood was the most widely used material in the furniture industry - plastic simply had not been developed as a viable or fashionable material in this market.

When the chair was first introduced it was quite revolutionary. Its curvaceous form and materials reflected many art and pop culture movements in the 1960s. It was featured in a number of publications such as the cover of Vogue magazine, as well as in many contemporary movies of the era. The chair continues to be popular today, largely because of its popularity in the 1960s and because of its organic form.

The current version of the chair retails for $310 and is frequently imitated and sold at much lower prices. However, original versions of the chair in good condition sell for over $900. The argument can be made that purchasing an original Panton Chair is a good investment.

Materials and Processes

Part of the chair's allure is its history. Panton spent five years researching materials and processes to develop the form of the chair. He struggled to find manufacturers to produce the chair. It was reported that twenty manufacturers rejected the chair on technical grounds--the believed it impossible or economically unviable to produce.

The current version of the chair, produced in polypropylene, is result of extensive testing and refinement of the production process.

Though the form has remained the same, the material has gone through a variety of changes.

Polyester --> Polystyrene: reduced amount of finishing required and reduce manufacturing costs.
Polystyrene --> Polyurethane: Increased durability
Polyurethane-->Polypropylene: Increased durability and colorfastness. This is the current version produced by Vitra

Verner Panton and other designers reviewing a prototype of the chair.

Testing of one model of the chair. The weight simulates a seated person.l

Contemporary Production

Vitra is the licensed manufacturer for Panton Chair. The current form of the Panton chair is manufactured using the injection molding process. They are able to produce 20 chairs an hour.

On the Vitra website customers can select their chair and color. It is also possible to download CAD files of the chair.

Panton Junior

The Panton Junior is a smaller version of the full-sized chair designed for children. Panton originally planned to introduce a version for children in the 1960s, but this plan was put on hold because it was decided that it wouldn't be economically viable.

The Panton Junior is made using the same materials and product processes and is sold through Vitra.

Questions and Reflection

Discussion Questions

1. Outline how mass production has played a role in making the Panton Chair a classic design.

2. Explain three advantages of using injection molding to produce the S-Curve Chair.

3. What might be some of the health, safety, and material design considerations for the Panton Junior chair?

4. Vitra's website allows consumers to select and compare colors of the chair. Describe how this communication helps consumers make a purchasing decision.

5. The website also provides CAD models of the chair for downloading. Outline how this information might be used by other designers, architects, or consumers.

6. Identify the type of physical model in the black and white photograph of the chair and designers. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this type of model.

7. Outline the ergonomic and anthropometric considerations the designers might have used in designing the Panton Chair and the Panton Junior chair.

8. Discuss the Practical function vs Psychological function and how they might relate to the Panton Chair.

9. Describe two characteristics of classic design that are well represented in Panton Chair.

Analyzing for Innovation

How might a design for adults be modified or altered for a younger user group? What besides ergonomics might a designer need to consider in this redesign?
The design of the Panton Chair is organic and curved. How might the same visual language be used to develop a line of furniture inspired by the chair?

Language and Exam Preparation

The Panton Chair is a good example for analyzing and inquiring into Classic Design (Topic 6). Below is a typical paper 2 question about this classic design.

Resources

Learn more about Verner Panton and his influence on modern furniture in this article: How Verner Panton Changed the Way the World Sees Furniture Design, by Milly Burrought, AnotherMag.
Chairs inspired by the Panton Chair: Pinterest Page

Resources:

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