Vitra EVO-C

A conversation with Jasper Morrison

Conversation hosted by Max Fraser

The EVO-C is made from gas-injected moulded polypropylene, which provides structural strength where needed. It's a technically complex construction; the two front legs are hollow skeletal structures, strong yet lightweight. We know reduction and simplicity are key to your ideology, but how difficult was it to ensure that you combined elegance and individuality with strength and that all-important 'cantilever bounce'?

The main struggles were the leg thickness, foot length (to avoid tipping over), and the details of where and how to terminate the gas-formed tubular parts. There were many more struggles on the engineering side: stress simulations, running the computer for weeks to estimate if the design was strong enough and if not, where it needed to be strengthened; testing the leg molds to see for ourselves; snaking the length of the tube to simulate the flow of gas through a given length without having to create expensive large molds; design vs engineering, 1:9.

Where do you think the chair will be used?

I think it's easy to adapt to a variety of spaces. Its shape is quiet enough, and its modernity is balanced by its curvaceous lines that would look almost decorative in older interiors. I think it can be used around a meeting table, as a dining chair at home, or on its own at a desk. Of all the chairs I've designed, I think it's the one that fits in the most anywhere.

Tell us about the name. What does EVO-C mean? And how is it pronounced?

It stands for Evolutionary Chair, a name that's too long and is pronounced "evok." The point of the name is to highlight the continuing evolution of this particular type of chair, starting with Mart Stam's original plumbing tube and elbow joint, through Alvar Aalto's curved wooden version, and all the way to the Verner Panton model (among many other notable variations).

Jasper Morrison

Jasper Morrison is one of the most successful product designers of the past few decades. Together with his close friend Naoto Fukasawa, he has developed his own design philosophy, the term "super normal," to define good design. He continues to pursue simple, practical designs that truly enrich our lives.

Vitra develops products and environments

Vitra elevates the quality of homes, offices and public spaces through the power of design. Founded in 1950 and since.

Product and environmental developmentRespect for the environment is expressed in every aspect of Vitra's activities: in the way we develop and manufacture our products, the way we source our raw materials and the way we organize our supply chains. New discoveries lead to further developments. Vitra believes that the environment "shapes" how we think and feel. With the power of design, we work every day to make the environment better.

In developing products that can be used for as long as possible , we avoid short-term trends and eliminate unnecessary elements. If the design, manufacturing method, and materials are not all in place, the product will not last.

Materials Vitra complies with official certification programs for sustainable and responsible sourcing and is committed to using materials that meet human rights and environmental standards. Products and materials are regularly analysed and assessed by external organisations. 46% of Vitra's suppliers are German and 96% are European. As a globally active company, we produce our products in the most resource-efficient way possible and deliver them to our customers all over the world.

Cultural Activities <br>Vitra is also active in the cultural sector beyond its business activities. It invests a large portion of its profits in preserving cultural heritage in design and architecture, and supports various institutions around the world, such as the Eames Foundation, which preserves the Eames House in Pacific Palisades, California, the Alvar Aalto Foundation in Finland, and the Barragan Foundation in Switzerland.
Furthermore, the Vitra Campus, located on a vast site in Weil am Rhein on the Swiss-German border, is a one-of-a-kind experimental space for architecture and design, and a place where architecture, design and art are open to everyone on an equal footing. The ongoing development of the Vitra Campus is also a sign of our mutual, long-term relationship with the region of Weil am Rhein.

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