May 15, 2004
Frank: An Honest, Up-front Chair
During the opening minutes of ICFF 2004, industrial designer Mark McKenna was jumping up and down upon a prototype of his new Frank chair. Though the two-pound chair is sutured together from four laser-cut sheets of steel, each less than a millimeter thick and assembled by hand, it remained solid under his torrent of abuse. […]
During the opening minutes of ICFF 2004, industrial designer Mark McKenna was jumping up and down upon a prototype of his new Frank chair. Though the two-pound chair is sutured together from four laser-cut sheets of steel, each less than a millimeter thick and assembled by hand, it remained solid under his torrent of abuse. The Frank, which resembles an elegant, angular Transformer robot, was inspired by architect Frank Gehry’s Fog chair; Frank’s name conveniently doubles as a metaphor for candor and lack of airs. If you prefer some artifice, however, McKenna’s team promises to customize your Frank in any colored powdered coating, stainless steel, wood veneer, felt, or other material that suits your needs.
