One Good Chair

The One Good Chair Design Competition is an annual furniture
design event which the Sustainable Furnishings Council co-sponsors.
The competition focuses on the lounge chair or similar
casual seating—simple objects which aid the body in the act
of sitting.

One Good Chair Winner Eric Ton, Zpine Chair, pictured with illustrious judges Kira Gould, Sashi Caan, Zem Joaquin, and Sarah Backhouse

Less is More: One Good Chair Winners Announced
at Winter Las Vegas Market
Designers demonstrate that minimal materials can result in maximum comfort

AT LAS VEGAS MARKET -- January 28, 2011 -- Two chairs took the "gold" at World Market Center Las Vegas this week, during the third annual "One Good Chair" competition, sponsored by World Market Center Las Vegas and the Sustainable Furnishings Council. Eric Tong's Zpinechair received the grand prize and Juan Mercado's RE_Flex chair won in the People's Choice category.

A discussion and awards ceremony took place Wednesday, January 26 at World Market Center Las Vegas during Winter Las Vegas Market, January 24-28.

Minimum|maximim was this year's theme, and designers from around the world were invited to create a chair that managed to preserve natural resources while also amplifying human delight. The goals of the competition revolved around minimizing material, production, shipping and assembly while maximizing comfort, utility, durability and beauty. Sustainable Furnishings Council members, including The Phillips Collection and Handy Living, created prototypes of some of the finalists' designs.