The Fray Chair is a vibrant new concept that celebrates the intersection of playful design and bold color experimentation. Designed by Liam de la Bedoyere for the Pantone Dualities Rendering Challenge 2025, this chair is not yet in production but is already capturing attention for its fresh approach to both structure and style. The challenge invited designers to reimagine products using at least three shades from Pantone’s Dualities material pack. The result is a striking series of visualizations that highlight just how transformative color can be.
The Fray Chair stands out for its unique construction. The chair’s frame begins as three unified poles that elegantly split apart or “fray” to become both the legs and the support for the seat and backrest. This clever design gives the chair a sense of rhythm and movement, naturally inviting a creative play with color. Rather than a static object, the Fray Chair feels alive with possibility, and its segmented frame becomes the perfect canvas for exploring complementary and contrasting colorways.
Designer: Liam de la Bedoyere
The use of Pantone’s Dualities pack was integral to the design process. Each rendering of the Fray Chair features a bold mix of hues that create unexpected harmony. One version delights with bright green, yellow, and hot pink, evoking a playful, almost retro vibe. Another pairing of turquoise, lavender, and pink feels fresh and modern, while a combination of navy, yellow, and fuchsia brings in a contemporary edge. The subtlety of peach, lilac, and dark blue in another variant shows how the design can adapt to different moods and interiors. Each colorway demonstrates how a simple shift in palette can completely transform the personality of a piece.
Liam de la Bedoyere’s chair is more than just a showcase for color. The frayed structure makes the Fray Chair visually engaging from every angle, while its rounded seat and smooth, sweeping lines promise comfort and approachability. The chair’s playful silhouette and inviting colors make it a conversation starter in any setting, whether imagined in a modern living room, a chic café, or a creative studio.
While the Fray Chair remains a concept for now, it offers a glimpse into the future of furniture design, where experimentation is encouraged and color is celebrated. For collectors and design enthusiasts alike, it’s exciting to see such open exploration of materials and hues, especially in a market that often plays it safe. The Fray Chair serves as a reminder that good design can be both functional and joyful, and that sometimes, a little color can go a long way.
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