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Product Designer
Product Manufacturer Product Description and Principal Function(s) In 2001 Qantas engaged Marc Newson Limited to design a business class seat that reclines to a flat bed (Skybed) to improve significantly customer comfort on long haul flights and reaffirm Qantas’ position as an innovative, contemporary airline that looks after the needs of its business travellers.Throughout 2001 and 2002 Marc and his team worked closely with Qantas to understand the needs of its business class customers. Privacy, comfort and flexibility were identified as key drivers in customers’ choice. Marc was given the challenge of addressing these needs plus looking at smart ways to give customers a feeling of space – all this within a highly regulated aircraft environment, where factors such as weight are critical. Key Product Features and Benefits While seat functionality was a key goal, Qantas’ brief to Marc Newson was to create a streamlined and contemporary aircraft seat. Throughout the design development process, Marc liaised closely with Qantas engineers and the seat manufacturer to ensure that all airline safety regulations were followed. Airline seats typically have a life cycle of approximately seven years, so the final design, including use of appropriate materials, had to be robust to accommodate thousands of Business Class customers over the expected life cycle of the seat.The seat’s 199.4cm (6’6”) length and generous width provide a significant sense of space and comfort for customers. An extensive array of seat adjustment options is available through the seat control panel to ensure maximum comfort in any position. In consultation with BE Aerospace, a US based seat manufacturer, Marc and his design team developed four pre-programmed seat adjustment controls designed to maximise customers’ comfort regardless of their height. These positions include a ‘Z-bed’ position for relaxing or snoozing; a ‘lie-flat’ position to enable customers to stretch out and sleep comfortably; as well as a take-off/landing and a dining/working position. Additionally there are a number of continuous adjustments that enable customers to “fine tune” the seat to suit their individual requirements. These include seat recline, leg rest and foot rest extension and a seat pan adjustment which can extend or retract to provide full support between upper legs and knees. A smartly styled full height cocoon was designed to provide customers with maximum privacy and create the feeling of having a personal zone. The design also features a privacy screen that can be deployed to provide a barrier to offer even greater privacy between seats. The inflight entertainment screen is positioned on the back of the cocoon to keep space in and around the seat free. There is also a recessed coat hook on the seat back that allows customers to hang their coats before landing. Space is always at a premium on aircraft and the clever design of Skybed has made use of all available space to incorporate storage features in and around the seat, including a dedicated water bottle holder. A second seat control has been incorporated into the cocoon to allow customers easier and more ergonomic access to move their seat from a fully reclined position. In addition to a dimmable reading light, customers can also make use of the dome or night light which is incorporated into the top of the cocoon. Innovation has also been extended to the use of material for the finish of the seat. Marc and his team worked with an aircraft supplier to produce a custom laminate for the seat’s cocoon. In doing so many factors such as flammability, durability and aircraft certification requirements had to be met. This process resulted in an unique material that is in keeping with the overall look and aesthetic of Marc’s original vision of the Skybed design for Qantas. |
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Design Award
