Dimensions of Design June 24 – August 24, 2003	Presented by

No piece of furniture has attracted the attention of designers, architects and artists alike as has the chair. Perhaps this fascination stems from the chair's close relation to the shape of the human body with its arms, legs, feet and back. The chair has assumed a key role in the history of design – as an experimental object, as a medium for designers to explore new trends and make statements about their personal design philosophy. More than any other piece of furniture, the chair has advanced from an everyday utilitarian object to attain iconic status.

In the IKEA sponsored exhibition Dimensions of Design, 100 miniatures of classical chairs convey the significance of design and the role it plays in the industrial production process. These classical chairs, exact 1:6 replicas of the originals, are presented on plinths in an elegant installation. The exhibition is accompanied by 40 wall-mounted panels comprising photographs, original drawings and time-lines.

100 of the Most Important Chairs in Design Story Since 1992, the chair miniatures produced by the Vitra Design Museum have earned a deserved reputation as high-quality, true-to-scale collectors' items. The Miniatures Collection, which was originally intended for sales purposes, comprises more than 80 models. By contrast, 100 prototypes of classical seats dating from 1800 to 1990 have been developed for the exhibition. Dimensions of Design directs the viewer's attention towards the perfectly crafted, true-to-scale character of the miniatures. It is visually easy to grasp a chair as a miniature, its proportions stand out even more distinctly than in the original object. The concentrated, clearly defined world of the miniatures helps viewers find their bearings in the manifold styles of contemporary design.

Educational Value The evolution of design can be illustrated through chairs. They provide us with a wealth of information about design issues including ergonomics, materials, engineering, manufacturing and aesthetics. The study of chairs allows us to look at the social context, at the age and climate in which they were created. In this exhibition, the chairs are considered not as isolated phenomena, but are placed firmly in their cultural and historical framework. Reproduced documents from the archive of the Vitra Design Museum demonstrate the path of development of the seats from the first draft via production to their actual use. The history of furniture design from 1800 to 1990 is presented in nine groups. Each group is described in an introductory text. Faithful reproductions of drawings, photographs and catalogues are exhibited. A time-line provides background information on social, political, economic and artistic developments during each epoch. A colour-coding system ensures easy orientation in the exhibition. Exhibition Catalogue The catalogue, Dimensions of Design – 100 Classical Seats, consists of 250 pages of detailed descriptions of each miniature. The catalogue includes descriptions of the history of the design and reception of the chairs, the production process and details of each particular construction.

An Exhibition by the Vitra Design Museum The Vitra Design Museum is one of the world's leading design museums. Housed in a building by architect Frank O. Gehry, the Vitra Design Museum first opened its doors to the public in 1989. The Museum is dedicated to documenting the history and current trends in industrial furniture design. The Vitra Design Museum creates exhibitions on themes related to design and architecture, which are shown around the world in renowned partner museums. In this context, Vitra Design Museum holds workshops for school pupils and students, while the in-house publication company develops books and special editions of objects. For more information about the Vitra Design Museum, visit www.design-museum.com. Upcoming Exhibits Virtual Museum Canada Release 1 Past Exhibits