BESSA Lounge chair
Design by Simon Reynaud
Index
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Press Release
Product sheet
Awards
Designer profile
Company profile
Interview with designer
Contact
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
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PRESS RELEASE
Simon Reynaud became winner of the prestigious Silver A' Design Award 2014
A' Design Award and Competitions are pleased to share that the project Bessa by Simon Reynaud has been granted the famous Silver A' Design Award at Furniture, Decorative Items and
Homeware Design Competition
Furniture, Decorative Items and Homeware Design Competition Silver A' Design Award Winner
A' Award and Competitions are delighted to share that the project Bessa by Simon Reynaud for
Thelos has been acknowledged with the famous Silver A' Design Award at Furniture, Decorative
Items and Homeware Design Competition chosen as the winner by the esteemed jurors of the A'
Design Awards & Competitions among thousands of projects.
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
More on Bessa
Simon Reynaud, the creative mind behind the winning project Bessa explains “Designed for
lounge areas of hotels, resorts and private residences, the Bessa lounge chair harmonizes with the
modern interior design projects. It's design conveys a serenity that invites to an experiences to be
remembered. Having solved its completely sustainable production, we can enjoy its balance
between form, contemporary design, function and its organic values.”
Learn more at: https://competition.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=31191
Design Team for Bessa
Bessa was designed by Simon Reynaud
The Silver A' Design Award
The Silver A' Design Award is a prestigious award given to top 5% percentile designs that has attained an exemplary level of sublimity in design. The designs are judged by a panel of three different jury which is composed of Academic, Professional and Focus Group Members. The designs
are evaluated with score normalization to remove any biases and are voted on aspects such as
functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, fun details, technology,
and any other specific points that could be considered, each of these points are further
weighted for different jury groups.
About A' Design Award and Competitions
A'Design Award and Competitions, aims to highlight the excellent qualifications of best designs,
design concepts and design oriented products. A' Design Award and Competitions are organized and awarded annually and internationally in multiple categories to reach a wide, designoriented audience. Learn more at: http://www.whatisadesignaward.com
Relevant Website
More info could be found at https://competition.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=31191
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
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PRODUCT SHEET
DESIGN NAME:
Bessa
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Lounge chair
INSPIRATION:
'Investigating the symbiosis between technology and sensitivity, with the latest tools of
woodworking and the refinement of materials. The arms grow, and grow their lines, guiding
to eyes and hands to sit. Inviting to the touch and giving the chair a sensual dimension.' Simon Reynaud
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Contemporary lounge chair with organic design aesthetics and fine lines that subtly harmonizes with special spaces and connoting a full comfort. With a maximum exhibition of all its
wood texture and upholstered with full sensibility by natural fabrics pleasant to the touch, it
gives a unique sense of elegance and calm.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION:
The creation of this chair comes in a distinctive concept of sustainability thinking into the
future, in the balance between respect control of nature materials and eco-friendly industrial production. The limitation of the non synthetic materials and without any fossil origin is a
beautiful challenge for our knowledge, our processes and our technical production that we
assume.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION:
This project began in September 2012 when Simon and David contacted by internet and
discovering the potential synergy between their concepts of design that both worked and
finished in November 2013 with the finishing details of this chair.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY:
Furniture, Decorative Items and Homeware Design
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY:
Bessa chair was made from solid wood and it was technically worked with specialized machinery and with applying the know-how to get the special features that define its forms.
With a production designed not only for the top quality but also for maximum sustainability,
the edition is only with certified sustainable wood and the upholstery from best natural and
organic fabrics. The wood treatment is finished only with water-based matt oil varnish and
the upholstery is only available with organic fabrics.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES:
Width 711 x Depth 770 x Height 655mm.
TAGS:
lounge chair, design, wood, organic, sustainability
RESEARCH ABSTRACT:
Researching always the limits of technology applied to the wood as a platform of experiment, this design get to maintain a serene aesthetics criteria by be cleaned of ornaments.
Only once assembled and polished with showing the natural wood lines with controlled joints
conclude on a solid message. From the inspiration of 3d files to physical end of the prototype in wood, we have confirmed carefully each process and each step to get a finest result without gaps or unfinished details.
CHALLENGE:
The challenges in this project have been to get a design of a chair with contemporary aesthetical touches mixed with a high cabinet maker value. We've tried to get clear and polished aesthetic criteria to conceive a project designed to enrich many more our experience
and knowledge of the design. We want to get generate new design ideas inspired from the
design culture history with a own imprint and with all empathy possible.
TEAM MEMBERS (1) :
Simon Reynaud
IMAGE CREDITS:
Àngel Roig
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
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AWARDS
A’Design Awards 2015 (Italy)
Bessa lounge chair is Silver A' Design Award Winner for Furniture, Decorative Items and
Homeware Design Category in 2013-14
Simon Reynaud for Thelos
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
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DESIGNER PROFILE
DESIGNER NAME
Simon Reynaud
ORGANIZATION:
Simon Reynaud Design
NON-DESIGN OCCUPATION:
Furniture designer Media, graphic, printing, culture, design
EDUCATION:
BA in product design at the Sheffield and Hallam University
EXPERIENCE:
I worked as a designer at the Studio Tord Boontje for 5 years. Working at the studio I was involved in all the project stages: from conception to project completion, and follow up.
In 2010 I established my own studio: Simon Reynaud Studio in Saint-Etienne, France.
I have a strong design experience in different areas, including: industrial design, 3D illustrations and modeling for prototyping and design consulting. Interested in challenging projects
and able to adapt to client requests, I deliver a strong design vision as well as project flexibility.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
French (Native), English
CLIENTELE:
As a designer he has worked with international brands that are leaders in their sectors. These
include Moroso, Philips, Bisazza and Swarovski amongst others.
WEB SITE:
http://www.simonreynaud.com/
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
PORTFOLIO URL:
www.thelos.cat
COUNTRY:
France
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COMPANY PROFILE
COMPANY NAME:
Thelos
PROFILE:
Thelos is a furniture design edition brand from Barcelona that selects, with sensitive art and
design criteria, the most fine contemporary furniture designs from the worldwide designers
and artists to get extraordinary experiences for its users. Thelos produces with the most suitable and natural materials and with totally sustainable criteria. It controls all origins of wood
and fabric, clean manufacturing processes, handmade finishes of each piece, non synthetic contents on any finishes and avoiding any negatively impact to the people who manipulate it, to the final users and to the environment. Thelos produces fine furniture at the highest
technician and of excellence level and with all empathy to the users and the planet. In
short: pure design, pure empathy.
David Farell CEO & Art director
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
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INTERVIEW WITH THE DESIGNER
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Simon Reynaud (SR) for A'
Design Awards and Competition.
Interview with Simon Reynaud at Friday 18th of April 2014
FS: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
SR: Thelos gave me an open brief to design a comfortable and elegant armchair. Working
on the project, I wanted to enhance the relationship we build with the object, and I wanted
to devote a particular attention the physical sensation. More than the ergonomy of the
chair, I wanted to design a piece that invites to the touch, in order to experience the object,
and to feel the quality of the materials. The organic armrests are growing, and their profile
guides the eyes and the hands when sitting in the chair. Once we sit, they are an invitation
to the touch and they give a sensual dimension to the object.
FS: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to
achieve?
SR: The structure of the Bessa armchair is a complex form, but it needed to be having this
organic language to strengthen the design. My main focus designing this work has been to
find the best way to adapt this organic shape according to the production constraints. We
then thought the use of computer numerical control would be the perfect way to mix the
absolute precision of the technology with a sensitive feeling. Thanks to the computer aided
design, we achieve to design the really technical but sensual frame of the Bessa armchair.
FS: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
SR: The future plans for this award winning design are to propose some variations of the Bessa, and to develop a range in harmony with the armchair (a chair and a coffee table would
be perfect to create a nice atmosphere).
FS: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
SR: The design of the chair took about three months, but the development has passed
through many different tests and phases (finding the right wood species, the good upholstery...). The Bessa project started two years ago.
FS: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you
decide to pursuit an inspiration?
SR: The brief was really open when I started the project, but when I began my investigations,
I quickly wished to express this sensitivity in the design. It seemed important to me to find a
kind of human dimension, and I wanted to stay away from the often cold and impersonal
codes contemporary furniture.
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
FS: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or
lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
SR: The design is currently produced by the company Thelos based in Barcelona.
FS: What made you design this particular type of work?
SR: When I look to the actual furniture, I seem to see many objects where personality is deliberately very blurred, without much identity, which could correspond to everyone. I think it
is sometimes important to keep the uniqueness of a design, as an identity and an asset.
When designing the Bessa armchair, I didn’t try to follow any trend, but I preferred to focus
on what kind of signs I wanted the chair to send, what story it had to tell.
FS: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of
your work?
SR: Of course, I had a particular attention for the work of Antoni Gaudi, like the Casa Batllo,
and as well to Scandinavian design from the last century. I am particularly sensitive to the
chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner in the 40's and the 50's, but Louis Majorelle and Michael
Thonet also influenced me a lot.
FS: Who is the target customer for his design?
SR: Designed for lounge areas of hotels, resorts and private residences, the Bessa lounge
chair harmonizes with the modern interior design projects. It's design conveys a serenity that
invites to an experiences to be remembered.
FS: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
SR: Designers should try to develop and express their sensitivity moreover than looking for the
perfect product everybody will want.
FS: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
SR: We were looking for a name which would bring more sense when looking at the armchair. A Bessa is each of the main branches that are on the stump of a tree.
FS: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
SR: The Bessa project started as always, with a lot of sketches and rough drawings. Once I
found the concept, I started to work with three dimension software, making different tests.
The three dimension tools play an important role in my design workflow. I used them as if
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat
they were three dimension sketches, and I gradually refine the details considering the different constraints to reach the right design.
FS: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
SR: Designed for lounge areas of hotels, resorts and private residences, the Bessa lounge
chair harmonizes with the modern interior design projects. It's design conveys a serenity that
invites to an experiences to be remembered. Having solved its completely sustainable production, we can enjoy its balance between form, contemporary design, function and its
organic values.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A' Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be
held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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CONTACT
THELOS
Ph. +34 931.759.037
Cell. +34 66.1231.901 (David Farell)
Salmerón, 68 1C
08222 Terrassa
BARCELONA
info@thelos.cat
david.farell@thelos.cat
www.thelos.cat
Salmerón, 68 1C 08222 Terrassa BARCELONA T.+34 931 759 037 info@thelos.cat www.thelos.cat