European Designer Interview: Uncovering the Fun of Office Furniture

Mr. Francesco Favaretto, born in 1983, is a rising star in the design world. As the son of Italian designer Paolo Favaretto, he developed an early interest in industrial design and interior architecture. After graduating from an art high school, he chose to study industrial design at IUAV in Venice. In 2009, Francesco and his father clarified the positioning of their design studio: they work not only on physical design but also on digital design. In 2018, Yihang established a partnership with the Favaretto & Partners studio to develop a training chair inspired by the shape of a whale. This whale chair, named Sam, combines fun and practicality. Join us as we explore the story behind this piece and the designer's understanding of it.

Question 1: Mr. Favaretto, the Sam you designed for Yihang has been a great success. This whale chair is adorable and comes in many colors — a truly unique and creative work. Could you share the design inspiration behind Sam with us?

Favaretto: Ever since Yihang expressed the wish to launch an iconic, recognizable product, this idea took root. We could look for inspiration as freely as we liked, but we couldn't stray from Yihang's core business. We wanted to create something practical and out of the ordinary.

That is why we started from ergonomics and widened our gaze to nature. The difficulty lay in balancing the two. In the end we chose the shape of the whale and created a one-of-a-kind training chair. I feel honored — and happy — that Sam is regarded as an outstanding piece.

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Question 2: We all know Sam is shaped like a whale. I'm curious how you connected such a large mammal with office furniture?

Favaretto: At the start, we analyzed three animals and carried out ergonomic studies. The conclusion was that the whale could satisfy diverse needs. For example, it can be a seat-stool, an armchair, or an iconic training chair. Moreover, the piece carries a warning for humankind — we are obliged to preserve the diversity of marine species and protect endangered ones.

A sketch of Sam

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Question 3: What do you hope Sam brings to users?

Favaretto: To be honest, beyond the initial "wow", I hope users will truly feel the product's functionality in the days that follow. Sam is not just a fun ornament — it is a training chair that gets used to the fullest.

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Question 4: You have created so many outstanding works. Would you share your design philosophy with us?

Favaretto: For us, design is serious work. We are a traditional Italian design studio that has always followed the principle of "design for all". We stand for good design standards, and we want our work to be used by a wide range of people.

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Question 5: How do you see the workplace design of the future?

Favaretto: Just as I said during the 2019 Yihang Designer Journey, I still believe that the workplaces of the future will further improve in flexibility, connectivity, and comfort. That is what I call Smart 4.0.

About Favaretto & Partners

Since Paolo Favaretto founded the design studio in Padua in 1973, curiosity, a lasting passion for research, and rigor in design standards have been the hallmarks of Favaretto & Partners' work in industrial design and architectural planning for more than 40 years. As early as the 1980s, the studio was among the first in Italy to work internationally, cooperating with well-known companies across North America, Europe, and Asia.