The One Good Chair design competition, organized by the Sustainable Furnishings Council and World Market Center, will take place for the third year with a new theme, "Minimum/Maximum," which challenges designers to create a sustainable furniture piece that is also comfortable.

The goal of this year’s “Minimum/Maximum” theme is to demonstrate that smart design can not only minimize consumption, but at the same time maximize comfort, according to Susan Inglis, executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council. She invited designers to minimize material, production, shipping and assembly while maximizing comfort, utility, durability and beauty in their product.

The focus of the competition is the lounge chair or similar casual seating—simple objects to assist the body in repose. Judges are looking for compelling ideas that expand on accepted sustainable practice by demonstrating an innovative use of new or conventional materials, and traditional or emerging techniques. Particular attention will be paid to innovative ideas for materials, comfort, fabrication, and shipping (including packaging).

Judging will focus on the three principles of One Good Chair:

1. Make good (Material conservation). How can shape optimize resources in design, fabrication, and shipping? What forms create little waste but lots of taste?

2. Feel good (Physical comfort). How can shape aid the body in the act of sitting? How do different people sit? How might they?

3. Look good (Emotional resonance). What kinds of images create emotional bond between viewer and product? What is the intersection of sustainability and sensuality?

"One of the challenges to the sustainability movement is sacrificing comfort for eco-friendly design. The One Good Chair design competition aims to put designers to the test and create a chair that expresses the best of both worlds—smart design and leisurely delight,” said Inglis.

Semifinalists will be announced Aug. 5 and will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to travel to the Las Vegas Market. Prototypes will be judged in person by a finalist jury and winners will be announced on Feb. 11, 2011.

"One of the challenges to the sustainability movement is sacrificing comfort for eco-friendly design," said Inglis. The One Good Chair design competition aims to put designers to the test and create a chair that expresses the best of both worlds -- smart design and leisurely delight."

For more details, visit onegoodchair.com/competition/2010/details