MOBILITY – Those who fly economy know
all about the physical recovery period that
follows. Discomfort aside, more people
are flying than ever before: in 2017, the
International Air Transport Association
reported a record-breaking 4.1 billion pas-
sengers worldwide. This growth has led to
new cabin innovations, many of which are
reserved for first-class and business flyers.
But redesign is happening at the economy
level, too: maybe you’ve seen Aviointerior’s
vertically inclined Skyrider 2.0. Last spring,
the saddle-like chair went viral. Reactions
were half aghast, half curious: Stand up? For
the entire flight? Luckily, Benjamin Hubert of
London-based design agency Layer has
a more promising alternative in mind.
Developed for European aerospace
corporation Airbus, Move is the prototype
of a new concept for economy-class seating.
The design taps into the potential of smart
textiles: integrated into Move’s digitally
Benjamin Hubert
designs a first-class
alternative for economy
AIRCRAFT SEATING
knitted seat cover is conductive yarn that
responds to a series of sensors. The prod-
uct allows passengers with a Move app to
measure and control variables like tempera-
ture, seat tension, pressure and movement.
As might be expected of such a cutting-edge
concept, the chair automatically adjusts to an
individual’s size and movements.
A major consideration in the design
of anything plane-related is weight. Trans-
porting a single pillow can tack on over
five cents to the cost of fuel. Move’s frame
is crafted from ultra-light aircraft-grade
aluminium and carbon fibre, a significant
upgrade on the cumbersome and unsustain-
able construction materials presently in
use. Hubert’s prototype represents a viable
solution for all those with a travel bug who
don’t want to sacrifice their own wellbeing
or – even if it's only to a small degree –
that of Planet Earth. – LGM
layerdesign.comCo
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