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Disney and Cappellini Unveil the Tron Chair

by Sheila Kim | Friday, December 3, 2010 | 8 Comments

Love it or hate it, the movie Tron was ahead of its time, featuring technology-inspired, minimalist visuals that are typical fare today, back in the 1980’s—a time where excess was king. Fast forward almost 30 years to the film’s sequel, Tron: Legacy, being released in theaters this month. This incarnation has inspired and influenced various creative realms—even design: Furniture company Cappellini has teamed up with Walt Disney Signature to present the Tron armchair. Designed by Dror Benshetrit, the armchair line is being unveiled in the Cappellini/Poltrona Frau Miami showroom this week during Art Basel Miami Beach.

Each limited-edition chair is unique, individually hand-finished and paying homage to the digital landscape of the movie Tron: Legacy. No neon or glow-in-the-dark features here. Instead, the sculptural pieces resemble contemporary works of art, sporting jagged edges juxtaposed with undulating layers that are formed by impregnated fiberglass with polyester resin.

“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,” says Giulio Cappellini, art director for the Italian manufacturer. The company plans to roll out a mass-produced version in 100 percent recycled roto-molded plastic next year.