Butterfly Chair by Eduardo Garcia Campos

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

EGC : This piece is inpired in nature, particularly in Mexican "Monarca" butterfly. This insect, in addition to its beauty and despite of the fragile appearance of its wings, is known for its strength and longevity. While other butterfly species have a life cycle of 24 days, this one can live up to nine months, 12 times more. The Monarca butterfly is capable of traveling more than 4000 kilometers (from Canada and the United States of America) to Oyameles states of Michoacan and Mexico (natural heritage of humanity).

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

EGC : The decision to manufacture the chair in one piece brought the biggest challenge, to achieve it was our main focus.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

EGC : Promote the desing as much as we can, to also position the firm Santo & Jean Ya

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

EGC : From the first sketches to the final pieces around 2 years and a half.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

EGC : We decided to develop this piece as part of a collection which is an exercise in exploration of metal processes.

DI: 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?

EGC : We have started make prototypes for our own company, but we are open for good oppotunities.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

EGC : Our believe that through design we can be an instrument to rescue the antique knowledge (handcrafted techniques) by applying it to a new generation of atemporal pieces. Its an obligation as designers.

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

EGC : Not a designer in particular, but the Art Nouveau

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

EGC : Our target customer is Premium

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

EGC : First of all, they are made according to desing principles, but contrary to the status quo, these pieces are made to last a very long time, so their are long-term investment. Also, the dialogue that is created when you put one facing another.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

EGC : Since the piece was inspired on a Butterfly wings, the name came obvious.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

EGC : Paper, pen, color pencils, markets, 3d modeling software, hand modeling, blue prints, sandpaper and wax.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

EGC : The concept

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

EGC : Yes, I worked with a sculptor, and metal engineer.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

EGC : The digital models helped us calculate mechanical properties such as weight and resistance.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

EGC : Most of all finding suppliers and making it in one piece.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

EGC : We beleive we can fly. We beleive we have a good piece and we wanted to give it international promotion.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

EGC : We learn about the process of casting, and the use of aluminum.