See the unexpectedly sophisticated chairs of ‘Star Trek,’ from Eames to Perriand

If you’re a Star Trek fan, you must have great taste in design. It’s a fact I can declare, not simply because I’m a big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but because the chairs used across the entire universe of Star Trek shows and movies are actually icons of 21st century design. While these chairs melt seamlessly into the backdrop of the USS Enterprise, most were off-the-shelf products, created by design legends like Eero Saarinen and Charlotte Perriand. Their approach to seating was so cutting edge that, even in 2021, these chairs still manage to feel like the future. Tadeo D’Oria is a 3D artist from Buenos Aires who has spent countless hours tracking down and documenting the chairs of Star Trek, and he’s building a public database of his findings.  Read about his delightful quest here. — Mark Wilson   See the unexpectedly sophisticated chairs of ‘Star Trek,’ from Eames to Perriand to Saarinen To boldly sit where no one has sat before.   READ MORE   Apartments are about to get smaller. That’s a good thing For once, the rent isn’t too damn high.   READ MORE   Lego bricks are terrible for the environment. These wooden alternatives biodegrade But they might still hurt when you step on them.   READ MORE   The rise of ‘frugal design’—and what it reveals about the future of innovation COVID-19 forced doctors around the world to get creative with their supplies.   READ MORE

The afterlife of Atomic City, a nuclear ghost town In 1986, a photographer documented an American town left abandoned after a nuclear disaster. His photos were published 30 years later.   READ MORE       innovation by design Apply now for the 2021 Innovation by Design Awards The Innovation by Design Awards, now in their tenth year, honor the designers and businesses solving the problems of today and tomorrow. There are 37 categories, and the judges include renowned designers and business leaders from some of the most innovative companies in the world, as well as Fast Company’s own writers and editors.  APPLY NOW

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