New York-based designer Kouros Maghsoudi has unveiled a chair with sculptural arms meant to demonstrate the “in-your-face” nature of American design, at an exhibition co-hosted by Dezeen during NYCxDesign.
The Hug Chair has a low-lying profile with thin legs supporting a flat cushion seat hemmed in by bulbous, cylindrical arms upholstered in Italian leather positioned so that the user can drape themselves over the chair.
The chair has an internal framing system made from FSC-certified wood with removable metal legs. The first models are upholstered with leather cushions on the arm and backrests, which form a single element.
It follows other pieces in Maghsoudi’s Hug collection, including a bed and tray, which are meant to communicate “hedonism in design”. The designer told Dezeen that the Hug Bed was designed explicitly for multiple sexual positions, for example.
The bilbous arms on the collection are meant to represent a “smothering hug”, said Maghsoudi.
The Hug Chair is less explicitly about sex, but Maghsoudi said that users of the chair can take multiple positions when sitting in, which communicates a sense of liberation associated with hedonism more generally
“When you interact with my chair or my bed or my furniture, there’s no direction on how to interact with it,” said Maghsoudi.
“It allows people to explore and do other things – it’s open to the user,” adding that the chair works well for posing and that its aspect ratios and scale are “very sexual”.
Maghsoudi often exhibits his work with models lying or strewn about the furniture, photographing it in ways that are more akin to fashion photography.
Calling the chair a “pedestal for sexiness”, he added that people during his exhibition took unexpected approaches when interacting with it.
“I didn’t direct anyone on how to sit on it, but people rarely sit on it completely upright.”
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The chair was displayed at an exhibition during NYCxDesign
The designer said that his “in your face” aesthetics are characteristic of American design at the moment.
“American design is so lawless and in your face,” he said. “It doesn’t follow any of the prescribed design laws that you see in Milan and in Paris.”
“We’re shattering all of these rigid constraints you see from Europe.”
When asked why he has chosen to release a single collection over a series of years, Maghsoudi said that he wanted to depart from the “de facto laws” of design showcases that, he said, encourage production for production’s sake.
He said that the Hug Chair gave him an opportunity to play with leather while still exploring the potential of the hug theme.
“I don’t really follow the de facto laws of how we’re supposed to operate within design weeks, doing full collections,” he said. “I don’t really care for that.”
Maghsoudi noted that his pieces create jobs for local people, as they are assembled in New York.
Hug Chair was displayed at an event during NYCxDesign at Spring Studios in Tribeca. The event featured the Hug Chair, which attendees were encouraged to sit in, as well as the Hug Bed, where an actress lay simulating sleep for most of the evening, surrounded by bottles of Olga vodka – a sponsor for the event.
Other stand-out designs during NYCxDesign includes a set of furniture designed by Henry Julier for USM at the inaugural Shelter fair in Chelsea. We also highlighted some material trends from the week.
The photography is by Lucian Clifforth unless otherwise stated.
NYCxDesign is on from 15 to 21 May throughout New York City. For more events and showcases during NYCxDesign visit our dedicated guide on Dezeen Events Guide.
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