The Seam chair was conceived with a design process not dissimilar to the way in which a piece of fabric is tailored into a form-fitting garment, a refined ‘seam’ along the spine of the chair referencing the seam detail used in garment construction. Seam forms a family of seating and tables designed for a variety of applications. Comprising six typologies, the collection includes a dining chair, stacking chair, bar stool, dining table, café table and bar table.

The intention for the Seam collection was to create a visual language that is timeless and versatile – a collection at home indoors in commercial applications and outdoors in a home garden. The Seam chair is able to blend harmoniously into spaces, while leaving an authentic and memorable final impression in its own right.

The design brief was to develop a commercially oriented collection of seating and tables, to be manufactured by renowned Australian premium outdoor design house, Tait. Designer Adam Cornish worked with Gordon Tait on the project. The concept would be a first in a step away from Tait’s signature metal wire designs. As a small family-run manufacturer, Tait designs and produces each collection in Australia, operating almost entirely on local industry. Working very closely with Tait’s manufacturing team during the early stages of the design process allowed Adam Cornish to effectively gain a strong understanding of the intimate factory’s capabilities, parameters and skills.

The factory possesses a rare mix of industrial processes including bending and pressing. Forming the sheet metal as if it were fabric (utilising the break press) and joining the chair’s seam (by tig welding) as if it were stitching became the foundation of Seam’s design concept. Seam demonstrates an environmental conscience with regard to product longevity, minimal use of resources, design for disassembly, replaceable componentry as well as individually recyclable and sustainable materials.

Photography: Haydn Cattach.