A huge sheet of fresh egg pasta draped over an extra-large wooden rolling pin started the design process for the brand new Ovo chair designed by British designer Damian Williamson.
‘I began to examine how this nonchalant expression could translate into an easy chair. The upholstery of the backrest and armrest has been folded in the same way as the pasta. Even the soft curvature of the ower corners resembles the fluid perimeter of the pasta. The generous soft curved forms appeal to our senses and invite us to engage with the chair. The result is a very tactile object,’ explains designer Damian Williamson.
The idea for the name came as Niels Jørgensen, CEO Erik Jørgensen Møbelfabrik, and Damian were talking about the inspiration for the chair – the fresh egg pasta. Ovo is a play on words deriving from the Italian word ‘Uovo’, which means egg.
The perfect balance
Ovo is a refined easy chair with striking curves resting on a rigid squared steel frame. The same steel is also used as a beautiful slim line connecting the back and the front of the chair. As a result, you achieve a playful integration between the leather and the steel while hiding the stitched seam at the same time.
‘The way in which the metal structure integrates with the upholstered elements is the result of my holistic approach to the project. The intention is to find a harmonious balance between the respective materials and how they interact with one another. The square metal bar is therefore used for the structural base but also to define the edge detail where the two upholstered surfaces meet each other: a key detail that was developed to reduce the number of visible stitched seams to a minimum’ says Damian.
OVO design Damian Williamson
Generous and comfortable The Ovo design is first and foremost about generosity but also great comfort. The chair is welcoming and very comfortable to sit in – it invites you to sit back and relax. Whether you place it in the comfort of your own private home, a relaxing hotel suite or a lobby, it will be the perfect fit.
‘I had initially envisioned Ovo being placed in the home. However, I believe that good design transcends borders; if successful, it transcends the borders between the domestic and commercial environment. There’s no reason why Ovo couldn’t also be enjoyed within the context of a hotel lounge or guest room for example,’ explains Damian.
The beginning of something beautiful
With the introduction of Ovo Erik Jørgensen Møbelfabrik marks the beginning of a very promising collaboration with Damian Williamson, a collaboration that started one year ago. The refined lines and aesthetic vision that Damian masters so effortlessly, is a perfect match for the craftsmanship and know-how that Erik Jørgensen Møbelfabrik has become known for.
About Damian Williamson
Born in London in 1974, Damian Williamson graduated in 1998 from the Department of Product Design at Kingston University London. He started his career working on several design projects, collaborating with design studios until 2004 when he founded his own studio based in Stockholm. Since then he has worked with companies such as Zanotta and De Padova, and now also Erik Jørgensen Møbelfabrik.
