Episode 07: Pushing the boundaries of aircraft seating design
In this episode we are joined by Alejandro Nunez Vicente, creator, founder and CEO of the Chaise Longue economy airplane seat design. I invited Alejandro’s on to the show to share his journey with us. What impresses most about this young man is his passion, determination and dedication to push the boundaries and shape the future of passenger experience for the next generation.
Intended to offer more choice in seating for the economy cabin, the development and subsequent controversy surrounding the Chaise Longue highlights the challenges of innovators designing products for the airline industry who challenge the status quo and disrupt established norms, making people uncomfortable and leading to resistance.
Designing airplane seats presents numerous challenges due to the unique environment and constraints of aircraft cabins. One of the primary challenges is maximizing space efficiency. This requires designers to balance the size and shape of seats with the space available, while also considering factors such as legroom, seat pitch and overall comfort which Alejandro is attempting to do in very creative ways.
Ultimately, a careful balance between creativity, research, testing, passenger comfort, space efficiency, safety, and cost just to name a few is needed. Successful designers must be able to navigate these challenges while also staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in the industry as it can take years to bring a product of this nature to market.
History offers us examples of other innovators who have gone on to prove everyone wrong in their respective industries and perhaps I wonder if Alejandro Nunez Vicente will be a name associated with disrupting aircraft seating with an idea that sparked in his parents basement, started off as a University project, that has led him all the way to the global Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany.
Episode recorded: December 2022
