A New Design for Economy Class Seats That Lets Passengers Pay for Space
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Skift Take
- Morph is a design concept for economy class seats designed by British design firm Seymourpowell.
- The seat rows are a standard product, but seat design can be adapted to individual flyers' needs.
- Seat architecture allows flyers to adjust the width and height of the seat. Flyers can even recline without bothering the passenger behind them.
- This is the standard seat formation in which every passenger is given the same amount of space, regardless of size.
- The Morph design concept allows flyers to pay for a wider space, or more privacy, without having to upgrade to business or first class cabins.
- The Morph design concept is probably most effective for families where the parents are paying the airfares for themselves and small children. This seat design would allow the parents to have more space and the children to have just the space they need.
Imagine if economy class seats could be custom fit to individual flyers. And airlines could charge flyers for a few inches of wiggle room instead of business class upgrades.
British design firm Seymourpowell has created a new concept in seat design that gives flyers and airlines the flexibility to adjust how much room each person takes up in a row.
The Morph economy class seats are designed to give passengers more comfort and choice, and to give airlines yet another revenue stream. Traditional airline seats were designed to fit the average flyer, but the design has become outdated as passengers grow and seats shrink.
How It Works
The seat rows would be a standard product fit for every aircraft, but the individual seats could be adapted to individual flyers' needs.
A single piece of fabric would stretch across the seat base and the seat backs. The fabric would then be separated into three sections using clamps as the arm and head rests.
This would allow flyers to pay for more space in economy class, or distribute row space between friends and family.
Flyers would be able to recline without bothering the passenger behind them. They could lean into the space created by the fabric without moving the seat back. Passengers would also be able to adjust the height and length of their seat base.
Watch the video below and click through the slideshow above for design visuals: