Automotive

Mazda uses its "Soul of Motion" design language on furniture

Mazda uses its "Soul of Motion" design language on furniture
The Mazda KODO Chair
The Mazda KODO Chair
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Mazda Global head of design Ikuo Maeda in the KODO chair
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Mazda Global head of design Ikuo Maeda in the KODO chair
The Mazda6 with Derek Jenkins, Ikuo Maeda and Peter Birtwhistle
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The Mazda6 with Derek Jenkins, Ikuo Maeda and Peter Birtwhistle
The Mazda6
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The Mazda6
KODO Chair
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KODO Chair
Mazda KODO sculpture
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Mazda KODO sculpture
Mazda KODO sculpture
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Mazda KODO sculpture
Mazda design bosses Derek Jenkins, Ikuo Maeda and Peter Birtwhistle
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Mazda design bosses Derek Jenkins, Ikuo Maeda and Peter Birtwhistle
The Mazda KODO Chair
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The Mazda KODO Chair
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"Motion while sitting still," or similar such phrasing, is a favorite of automaker press releases. Every car manufacturer loves to pretend that its latest car looks like it's speeding down the highway even while it's parked at Denny's. For Milan Design Week, Mazda extends the same design concept to the very essence of sitting still: a chair.

Mazda calls its still motion "KODO," which translates to "Soul of Motion." The design language began with the 2010 Shinari concept and made it to production lines on the CX-5 redesign. Mazda says that KODO styling was inspired by the natural movements of animals in the wild.

Mazda describes the KODO Chair's styling as a "ready-to-pounce, forward-leaning stance conveying the sudden release of pent-up energy." We'd argue that those long, lanky front legs actually give the chair more of a feel of a rear-leaning entity, such as a child playing crab soccer, but we'll agree to call it a tensed-up rear lean, as in a snake or feline about to lay teeth into an unwelcome guest.

Mazda revealed the chair in its Mazda Con-Temporary Space (MACS) within the Zona Tortona district of Milan, where it's joined by the new Mazda6, the second member of the KODO family.

The Mazda6
The Mazda6

Mazda isn't on a private island when it comes to automakers building chairs. At last year's Design Miami event, Audi gave its own take with the R18 Ultra Chair," and a number of other automakers are displaying home furnishings in Milan.

For a thorough tour of the creations of Milan Design Week, be sure to visit our photo round-up.

View gallery - 8 images
9 comments
9 comments
Slowburn
That chair is a serious trip hazard.
Otiose
Spiderman: That's my chair!
Daishi
My toe hurts just looking at it.
When I bought my Mazda 6 I picked up a V6 with a manual transmission for about 20k. Then they quit making the V6 with a manual transmission, now they don't offer a V6 for the car at all :(
A mid sized sedan with a max of 184 hp is not very zoom zoom. My 2004 is a sleeper and I'm keeping it.
Alfred Max Hofbauer
If I were to glimpse that thing in a dark place, I would probabely run for my life! It´s about ready to jump...
yrag
Exactly slowburn--you beat me to it.
It looks great, but it's an impractical design.
John Hagen-Brenner
So sexy... it's DANGEROUS! Trip Hazard.
Kyle Knapp
Does anyone else expect to see machine guns pop out of the sides? Or hear it say something like, "I'm different."
RG COLDWORLD
Love it! I'll take one with two extra legs and a flexible lamp coming overhead from the back like a scorpion, or I could make the mods myself! But o love the base model!
Gargamoth
Great seat for playing video games.