Project Summary:
The Stinson Chairs are a pair of bespoke chairs crafted in solid timber, designed with clean lines and balanced proportions for everyday dining.
Project type: Exhibition piece
Location: London
Client: HOKA
Collaborators: Yeet Creative
Scope of work: A pair of sculptural exhibition chairs developed for the launch of the Stinson One 7
Materials: Bleached/ebonised English ash, blackened steel, synthetic cord.
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An exploration of hybrid design from Bristol-based designer-maker Sam Whyman of Whyman Furniture, this project was a collaborative response to Hoka’s new sneaker design, the Stinson One7.
The collaboration began as an invitation to interpret Hoka’s latest trainer through furniture design. For me, the brief immediately resonated. It offered an opportunity to explore the meeting point between urban life and the natural world, a balance that closely reflects my own daily routine. Regular morning trail runs from central Bristol out into the surrounding green spaces became a direct point of reference, informing both the concept and material language of the chair.
The resulting piece is a custom-designed chair that combines contrasting qualities of weight and lightness, ruggedness and refinement. Heavy, textured slabs of English ash form the monolithic sides of the design, grounding the piece with a sense of permanence and solidity. These are offset by slender steel elements and an innovative laced cord seat and backrest, introducing lightness, flexibility, and technical detail.
At the centre of the design is the corded seat, which is tensioned between the two timber sides to create the sensation of the sitter floating within the structure. This element draws a clear parallel to performance footwear, where support, suspension, and comfort are engineered through minimal material and precise construction. The visual and physical balance between mass and lightness is central to the chair’s identity, reflecting the dual environments of trail and city that inspired it.
Material choice plays a key role in the project. The chair is crafted from locally grown English ash, selected for its strength, grain character, and connection to the surrounding landscape. The cord used for the seat and backrest was sourced from deadstock materials, reinforcing my approach to responsible making and considered resource use. Finishes were carefully blended and applied to subtly reference the colourways of the Hoka Stinson One7, without becoming overt or literal.
As with all Whyman Furniture pieces, the project reflects a hands-on, design-led approach, where making and material exploration are integral to the outcome. The chair sits between functional object and sculptural statement, intended to be experienced both visually and physically.
The furniture was exhibited alongside the Hoka Stinson One7 trainer, allowing the two objects to be viewed in direct conversation. Together, they highlighted shared values around performance, material innovation, and thoughtful design, while exploring the intersection between urban environments and natural landscapes.
