God save the Eames

I'll spare you the rant that I went on a few posts back about inspiration in design with reference to and comparison between the Eames LCW and the more recent Channel Chair [See: Pavement Journal backlog]. Here we have the Lounger armchair and chaise by the very talented Spanish designer Jamie Hayon. I first noticed Hayon's work with the range of colourful camper shoes (give me a break I haven't been at this long). Since then, like most gifted Spaniards now that I think about it, he keeps a fairly low profile. But on the odd occasion where Hayon's work enters the design media rodeo I surround myself with, he never fails to impress. Maybe because Hayon was one of the first designers I ever really paid attention to, I see his work as a product of meticulous attention to perfection, which is something I respect greatly in a designer. More to the point, I see Hayon as a very cool designer, which is one of many images a designer may choose to build for himself. A design that champions this coolness is the Lounger recliner and chaise. As stated before about inspiration from iconic design pieces, undoubtedly this seating duo is very Eames Lounge Chair-esque. But in an almost punk graffiti style exemplified by the likes of Marten Baas with the Smoke range and distantly Banksy, Hayon has made it bright red. Very loud.
Traditionally, a design that had adopted this philosophy would have no place in any loungeroom of mine. However I say with confidence that this piece is magnificent and I love everything about it. Why? Continue reading.
So conclusively, it could be argued that Hayon has simply taken the Eames Lounge Chair, made a few minor, intentionally unnoticeable adjustments, and made it bright red. Post deconstruction it is rather similar to the philosophy behind Baas' Smoke range. It gets people talking, murmuring under bated breath "oh my god, look what he's done to Eames..!!". It's rebellious, it's taboo, it's punk-rock, it's adventurous, sexy, confrontational. Hell, it's a lot of things! But most of all, it's very cool.