TRON Armchair by Dror Benshetrit (Studio Dror) for CAPPELLINI & WALT DISNEY SIGNATURE
The TRON Armchair was designed by Dror Benshetrit (Studio Dror) for the joint CAPPELLINI & WALT DISNEY SIGNATURE project as an homage to the rugged and rocky landscape of the ‘Outlands’ terrain presented in “TRON: Legacy”, the 3D high-tech adventure movie set in a digital world and released by WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES in late 2010.
The prototype TRON Armchair is suitable both for indoor and outdoor use and comprises of intersecting layers and textures of ‘digital’ rock. It consists of 100% recyclable roto-molded plastic with varying textural surfaces and shades of black.
The Prototype Tron Chair from Dror on Vimeo.
Officially, the chair was first presented in the Cappellini/Poltrona Frau Miami showroom during Design Miami/Art Basel 2010 in a Limited Edition set of 4 unique chairs constructed, especially for the occasion, from composite materials that consist of impregnated fiberglass with polyester resin, processed with manual layering and individually hand-finished/painted by the designer, Dror Benshetrit (see the designer’s interview during the exhibition).
Following that, WALT DISNEY SIGNATURE and CAPPELLINI introduced the first mass production run of the original 100% recycled roto-molded plastic chair at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2011 (at the Milano Design Village). The mass-produced version of the TRON Armchairs comes in 4 different colors: the dark grey of the “stone” and the white of the “air” represent the landscape of Tron and the Safe House in “TRON: Legacy”, while the light blue of the “water” and the green of the “grass” represent the real world, as Giulio Cappellini explains (see also Dror Benshetrit’s interview during the exhibition).
In parallel, during the Milan Design Week 2011, a special edition of the Tron Armchair was displayed at “TRON Designs Corian®”, a design exhibition sponsored by DuPont™ Corian® and licensed by Disney® dedicated to the world of “TRON: Legacy”. The overall project entitled “Safe House” was a collaboration of various designers and presented living solutions designed in Corian® and inspired by “TRON: Legacy”. Specifically, designers proposed solutions to address various spaces within the domestic dwelling including Bathroom/Wellness, Living, Bedroom, Outdoor, Home Theatre area and Kitchen/Dining. The unique special edition TRON Armchair presented at the installation was presented within the Home Theatre setting with vertical freestanding element designed by Giulio Cappellini and was composed from fiber glass and DuPont™ Corian® techno surface backlit by CTC lighting elements.
The TRON Armchair continues the innovative collaboration between WALT DISNEY SIGNATURE and CAPPELLINI, who jointly introduced a line of Disney-inspired limited-edition chairs at the Milano Design Village in April 2010.
“This collaboration is the premise for a joint CAPPELLINI and WALT DISNEY SIGNATURE stylistic commitment that promises to become a new, interesting and exciting chapter in the history of contemporary design, combining CAPPELLINI’s strong inclination for innovation with the magical creativity of Disney” states Giulio Cappellini, Art Director for CAPPELLINI.
On the same note, Pamela Lifford, Executive Vice President, Fashion and Home, DISNEY CONSUMER PRODUCTS says: “WALT DISNEY and CAPPELLINI both have a shared approach to design, creativity and collaboration that turns everyday products into functional works of art”. “Collaborating with a leading Italian design brand specialising in contemporary furnishings like CAPPELLINI is another exciting step in continuing WALT DISNEY SIGNATURE’s philosophy on design and innovation.” (see video on YouTube)
For more than nine decades, the name “Walt Disney” has been preeminent in the field of family entertainment. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to today’s global corporation, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY continues to proudly provide quality entertainment for every member of the family, across America and around the world.
DISNEY CONSUMER PRODUCTS (DCP) is the business segment of THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY (NYSE:DIS) that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home décor and books and magazines to foods and beverages, stationery, electronics and fine art. This is accomplished through DCP’s various lines of business which include: Disney Toys, Disney Fashion & Home, Disney Food, Health & Beauty, and Disney Stationery. Other businesses involved in Disney’s consumer products sales are Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and magazines, and www.DisneyStore.com, the company’s official shopping portal. The DISNEY STORES retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by DISNEY in North America, Europe, and Japan.
Founded in 1946, CAPPELLINI has become synonymous with contemporary, avant-garde design. Over the years it has launched some of the world’s greatest designers, producing innovative and high quality furnishings, and is particularly renowned for its skilled lacquering processes. Products can be divided into the following collections: Collezione-comprises products made in collaboration with contemporary designers; Sistemi-focuses on the production of modular furniture and solutions for residential and office areas; Progetto Oggetto-entrusts international designers with the task of designing home furnishing accessories. A number of iconic pieces are also exhibited in museums throughout the world – Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Museum of Modern Art in New York and the George Pompidou Centre in Paris; In 2004, CAPPELLINI became part of the Poltrona Frau Group, a project piloted by the private investment company Charme set up by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, which in 2006 listed on the Milan stock exchange. CAPPELLINI is available worldwide. Its flagship stores are located in Milan, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.
Since 2002, Dror Benshetrit has developed a multidisciplinary practice specializing in innovative design projects. His approach to design has shown breadth and depth through the completion of projects varying in scale and nature. His portfolio encompasses product design, interior and architecture projects, and creative direction.
Based in New York and having received his education at the Eindhoven Design Academy in Holland, Dror observes the world from an inquisitive eye and seeks unique responses to the needs of our modern lifestyle. He has long been interested in the manifold meanings and uses of any single object. Each project starts with questioning conventions and entails with immersive investigation. He conducts thorough research focusing on materials, technology and geometry in collaboration with a team of experts boasting a global knowledge-base. Dror works with a range of international clients, including Alessi, Bentley, Boffi, Bombay Sapphire, Cappellini, Kiehl’s, Levi’s, Lualdi, Material ConneXion, Maya Romanoff, Marithé + François Girbaud, Puma, Rosenthal, Skins Footwear, Yigal Azrouël, Shvo, Swarovski, Tumi, and Target.
Dror has lectured around the world and received numerous design awards including the GE Plastics Competition “Merging Boundaries” (2001), iF Product Design Award (2006), the Good Design Award (2008, 2010). He has gained international media exposure. and has been widely exhibited. His work is included in the permanent collections of major museums in North America, Europe and the Middle East.
Sources: www.studiodror.com, www.cappellini.it, www.disneyconsumerproducts.com, www.coriandesigninspiration.com
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