A beautiful essay
in molded plywood
Consumer Friendly
Design Group Italia is headquartered in Milan, but the group—which calls itself a “consultancy” and is dedicated to design research—is really a little United Nations of designers from all over the world, with nine countries represented among its staff of 34.
One of the principals, Sigurdur Thorsteinsson, from Iceland, designed the lovely Lyra Stool for Magis. Lyra was one of the first pieces of furniture that Design Italia ever produced. They are more likely to be involved in consumer products, including some things you might have at home—like the handy little paper cutter, designed for 3M, that makes slicing a straight line across a roll of wrapping paper much easier, or the Beta screwdriver.
What has always attracted me to industrial
products is their social aspect, their
history, how they evolve thanks to design
- Sigurdur Thorsteinsson
Molded Plywood
In designing the Lyra Stool, Thorsteinsson drew on Charles Eames’s pioneering work with plywood in creating the molded beech plywood seat. The slight curve at the back of the seat was particularly challenging to achieve, and numerous prototypes had to be developed. Thorsteinsson might have wondered whether it was all worth it, because when Lyra was introduced in 1994, it didn’t win any big awards, and it didn’t become part of any permanent museum collections.
But over time, the sleek good looks and comfort of Lyra began to attract devotees, and it has become one of the best-selling products in Magis history.
