We spoke with designer Jordi López Aguiló to hear more about his design of our Ringo Chair. Leading KUTARQ studio, architect and designer Jordi López Aguiló designs lighting, objects and furniture with a unique and pragmatic perspective. Each project involves a methodical process that emphasizes both material and research.
The Ringo chair was created in quiet moments of peace, by simply being here-and-now, and not thinking too much. There was a kind of spontaneous inspiration that came and grabbed my notebook. The first sketches I found were from 2019, when I was in Copenhagen. I was attracted by the idea of combining the pure geometry of a ring with an organic form (the seat). The tension between both elements created something unique and very seductive. I like to compare design with cooking. 'Ringo' has the right amount of each ingredient: The form of the chair is timeless, iconic, whimsical, and functional, simultaneously.
What problem (if any) were you trying to solve?
- To create a chair that is sustainable and compact for easy shipping.
- A design that looks great from any angle and is ergonomically sound
- An aesthetic that fits both indoor and outdoor spaces.
- A design that is long lasting and affordable at the same time.
Were there any challenges along the way?
Designing the chair both to be both stackable and flat packing for shipping purposes was challenging. After several tests, the solution of having knock-down legs was the best way of reducing the packaging volume. The early designs were on only able to stack two chairs tall. After several design tweaks updating the geometry, Ringo can now be stacked up to six chairs tall. In total, product development took more than three years. I really want to thank Matt Carr, Eugenie de Loynes, Henry Huang, Sung wook Park, Seymer Cruz, Nate Asis, Jenny Suh, and the whole Umbra team.
What’s your favorite quality or detail about the product?
Ringo’s design makes it eye-catching and comfortable, and its materials make it versatile for indoor and outdoor use. The chair embodies a balance of airiness and strength. Its seat, embedded with wood fibers, appears like it’s floating, suspended on the metal ring structure. One of the things that’s most interesting to me is how the form changes depending on the angle you view it from.
