DONDO OTTOMAN
DONDO OTTOMAN
Eggarat Wongcharit, THA, 2009
Layers of cotton fibre are coated with rubber latex and molded as a seater of an ottoman. Thanks to the latex’s flexibility, the object can be inflated and gives bouncy effect when seated. Fabric upholstery on the seat cover is the by-products from massive garment production. Assorted pieces of fabric are smocked and attached onto the latex skin to cover up the whole seating structure.
Dondo ottoman, 2009
Natural rubber and assorted recycled fabric
H 50 Ø 80 cm
Series: DON-1
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Eggarat Wongcharit
Eggarat Wongcharit studied graphic design at the Pratt Institute, New York and trained in advertising for five years before moving into three-dimensional design when he studied at the Domus Academy Milan, Italy, in 1987. He developed his own furniture design in his training at Studio Paolo Nava while also freelancing for local furniture companies in Brianza for five years. He started his own furniture manufacturing process when he returned to Thailand in 1993 and established his EggKarat studio, where he merged traditional Thai craft techniques with modern processes of manufacturing and created a range of furniture that expressed Thai design DNA.
In 2003, he has established Crafactor, a local furniture brand that aims to export its furniture products to a global market. At present, the products are sold to many retailers, boutique hotels and residential projects around the globe. Many of his international and local award-winning items of furniture have been featured in the international media. His skills in graphics, furniture, products and interior design are also reflected in various de sign projects, including the Iniala beach hotel project in Phuket, Thailand, where his versatility is particularly reflected in Villa Siam. In 2012, to pursue his vision of promoting Thailand’s brand identity globally, he created the exhibition Slow Hand Design for the Milan Design Week. The exhibition showcased objects produced by local manufacturers that reflect Thai design DNA with global workability. The exhibition was supported by the Royal Thai government Department of International Trade Promotion. He is also in terested in design education. With his experiences in leading and teaching in the master’s of fine arts program in design at Rangsit University (1994–2010), he developed training in practical design skills, production and marketing for professional workshops for his exclusive clients. Today he is still pursuing his own design path to further develop and produce projects for a global market.
Eggarat Wongcharit *1959
Studies: Pratt Institute NY, Domus Academy Milan
Studio: Crafactor since 2002
Exhibitions: Salone del Mobile, Milan
Status: Graphic, Furniture, Product and Interior Designer
Lives/works: Bangkok, Thailand
Contact: www.eggarat.com
www.crafactor.com