For decades, business class design has chased a familiar formula – lie-flat seats, glossy control panels, and a parade of finishes meant to signal luxury. But every so often, something arrives that doesn’t just tweak the model, it quietly replaces it. That’s what Optimares has done with SoFab, a business class seat built around a sofa bed, not a motorized recliner. It’s an elegant pivot, and it’s earned the seat a Red Dot Award for good reason.
SoFab challenges the assumption that luxury in the sky requires complex electronics and layered mechanics. There are no control buttons here. No seat-back motors humming mid-flight. Instead, a simple manual pull-tab slides out an ottoman from beneath the footrest, transforming the entire seating area into a bed that’s 78 inches long and 40 inches wide. That’s not just larger than most competitors—it redefines what it means to sleep comfortably on a plane. You can sprawl, turn on your side, stretch without bumping into structural limits. It’s spatial freedom, something you rarely associate with air travel.
Designer: Goood srl for Optimares
The decision to go manual wasn’t a cost-cutting compromise. It’s a design philosophy that values simplicity, sustainability, and user intuition. Fewer components mean less weight. Less weight means lower fuel burn, fewer emissions, and a more efficient aircraft. Every pound saved in aviation matters, and SoFab trims them not just smartly, but stylishly. The seat itself weighs between 110 and 132 pounds, a fraction of traditional business-class seats once you account for the missing motors, actuators, and wiring.
This leaner design also leads to fewer malfunctions. There’s no risk of a motor failing mid-flight or a seat locking into an awkward position. For airlines, that’s one less maintenance headache. For passengers, it means every seat is ready, every time. And for those with visual impairments, the tactile feedback of the SoFab design offers a more inclusive, accessible setup than glossy touchscreen panels that offer no physical cues.
None of this means SoFab skimps on comfort. The design still includes privacy dividers, integrated power ports, and fixed entertainment screens up to 21 inches. The tray table folds out in stages, becoming a usable side surface even when you’re not dining. Storage is intentionally modest, but adequate, perfect for passengers who value relaxation over productivity during a flight.
Visually, SoFab feels calm and inviting. The curved shell and soft materials echo a lounge more than a cockpit, creating a space that feels private but never claustrophobic. It’s meant to feel like a living space, not a luxurious melange of buttons and panels to summon a hostess with a glass of champagne. And perhaps that’s the most powerful thing about SoFab. It brings a human scale back to business class, replacing over-designed complexity with thoughtful clarity.
The post Forget Recliners, Your Next Business Class Seat Could Basically be a Luxurious Sofa first appeared on Yanko Design.