Focus Italy: Coney and the Joy of Everyday Design

Q: Coney really looks “chairful”. How do you design something that feels so playful, while still being durable and functional?

A: Paraphrasing our beloved Wallace Stevens, we would say that the human mind has the ability to absorb and store something the very moment it perceives it. The experience of things —nature, a rake at an art exhibition, grandma’s biscuit tins, old garden chairs — everything is preserved in our memory. Imagination can build something new out of that raw material. Something that is not a mere repetition of the past. Something that brings together fragments of experience through intuition. Intuition, by linking things that were previously unrelated and by proposing unprecedented associations of ideas, in itself provokes irony. That intuition, therefore, imposes a form on our consciousness. And this form does not have to be grand! On the contrary, if it is simple and humble, it will be universal and “light.” Simple is something that works well and, speaking of chairs, has its own solidity and resistance. When a design becomes too complicated and the concepts too sophisticated, everything becomes artificial and exhausting: designers can create very ingenious and well-constructed artifices, but they know better than anyone else that when they do, they are doing things of no importance.

All of this is expressed in an extremely poetic way in what we might choose as our manifesto-text: “La canzone intelligente”, a song by Cochi and Renato.

“If it is simple and humble,
it will be universal and ‘light’…
When a design becomes too complicated,
everything becomes artificial and exhausting.”

Q: Is there a small detail in the chair that you’re especially proud of — something not obvious at first, but meaningful once noticed?

A: A characteristic detail of the Coney is the backrest made of a single piece of moulded metal sheet. We have designed a three-dimensional backrest that prevents the accumulation of water near the frame and minimises the number of joints. The backrest has a shape reminiscent of a comb or rake, whose upward-facing teeth appear as vertical, equally spaced and parallel slats, similar to those on the seat. From a single mould it is possible to obtain, with modifications to the moulding parameters, the backrests of all the seats in the collection.

Q: Pedrali collaborates regularly with CMP Design. What makes this partnership meaningful for you, and how does CMP’s design philosophy reflect Pedrali’s values?

A: The collaboration with CMP Design began in 2012 with the launch of the first Malmö seating collection and is rooted in shared values: a commitment to quality, functionality, and a timeless, essential aesthetic.
Through a design approach that merges craftsmanship with industrial production, CMP Design perfectly interprets the philosophy of the company – creating beautiful, appealing products that address real user needs while promoting individual well-being and environmental harmony.
Over the years, this collaboration has led to collections distinguished by a careful material selection, meticulous attention to detail and exceptional comfort. These designs are made to last and naturally adapt to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Sustainability is also a key pillar of this partnership: the products CMP Design creates for Pedrali are designed to be easily disassembled and recycled, reflecting the commitment of the company to a responsible production.

“Our collaboration with CMP Design is rooted in shared values: quality, functionality, and a timeless, essential aesthetic.”