A Children's Seat
DURATION
NOV - DEC 2024
CLIENT
Danmarks Næste Klassiker
THE DESIGN CHALLENGE
As a participant in Danmarks Næste Klassiker, I was challenged to design a new seating solution for children aged 3-6 years. It was meant for daycare institutions—inviting play, easy to store, and stackable.
While visiting a daycare, I was struck by the fact that the children were sitting on chairs designed for adults. They sat high above the ground because it was convenient for the adults.
When kids sit that high, falling becomes a real risk, so they are forced to sit still. But why should children learn to sit still? We spend their early years teaching them not to move, only to later push them to be active because "movement is healthy." That contradiction became the foundation of my design.
FROM INSTITUTIONAL FURNITURE TO A BALANCE SEAT
Originally, the brief was to create a piece for daycare settings, but I quickly shifted my focus. Instead of another institutional chair, I wanted to design a balance seat—a piece that doesn’t force stillness but encourages movement.
Children’s motor skills should be strengthened, not restricted. Movement helps develop balance, body awareness, and learning abilities. I wanted to create a seating solution that embraces that.
DESIGN PROCESS
Most children's furniture is either overly playful—bright, plastic, and disruptive in a home—or purely functional for institutions. I wanted to design something different.
I focused on materials, form, and aesthetics that would fit seamlessly into a well-designed home—a piece parents would want to have in their living space. At the same time, it had to give children the freedom to sit, move, and balance naturally without forcing them into stillness.
THE FINAL PRODUCT
The result is a balance seat that challenges traditional ideas of how children should sit. It’s a seat, but not one that demands stillness. It is designed at a child’s height, so falling isn’t a big deal—because getting back up is part of the process.
This piece fits into the home, not just as functional children’s furniture but as a considered design object. It grows with the child—not just in function, but in the way it integrates into everyday life.
What started as a brief for daycare seating became something bigger: A piece of furniture that gives children the freedom to move.
ABOUT SOPHUS
Multi-award-winning industrial designer with over 20 years of experience in high-end product design. Raised in the Danish design tradition and mentored by master designer David Lewis, Sophus is passionate about creating meaningful, lasting design solutions. His approach is rooted in empathy, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to exceeding client expectations. He believes in long-term collaborations built on trust and mutual respect, ensuring that every project is not just a product but a true reflection of a brand’s identity.
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contact@sophusbang.com
