The 'Sunday' chair - named after the marathon runner Sunday Bahda - was conceived by Bryan Marshall and David Granger of Bangdesign in 1991 as a cast aluminium and moulded plywood chair. Motivated by the desire to design a lightweight, mass-market stacking chair the designers developed the chair to prototype stage and presented it during their visit to the Salone del Mobile, Milan in 1994. Although unsuccessful in securing a manufacturer in Italy, the chair design was subsequently developed further and licensed to Talon Technology, Sydney/Malaysia in 1995. Over the next 18 months Bangdesign worked with Talon Technology to perfect the design in Talon's unique carbon-fibre/resin-injection technology. Released as the Talon chair in late 1996 it was the world's first carbon fibre chair designed for high-volume production and subsequently won an Australian Design Mark, DIA Selection Award and a Powerhouse Museum Selection award in 2001. The Talon chair, also in the Museum's collection (Powerhouse Museum object number 2005/6/1), has been successfully marketed in Australia and internationally. The 'Sunday' chair prototype was shown in the 1999 Powerhouse Museum exhibition '4+1' as part of the section devoted to the work of Bangdesign and including the Talon chair design development.

Founded in 1989 Bangdesign is a successful, multi-award winning Sydney design company whose diverse portfolio embraces products, furniture, bathroom fittings, tapware, interior fitouts and exhibition design as well as presentation and sports event-related objects for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Bangdesign's Bryan Marshall and David Granger are continually experimenting with new technologies and forms and see design as 'a problem solving process where everything is questioned in order to unearth better answers.'

Initially conceived as the 'Sunday' chair in 1991 this plywood and plastic prototype was subsequently developed by Bangdesign and Talon Technology, Sydney / Malaysia as the Talon carbon-fibre chair 1995-1997.

The object file contains notes by David Granger. The notes say 'The original inspiration for the chair came to Bryan Marshall while noticing and admiring the elegant/athletic running style of a marathon runner (called Sunday Bahda) in the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games.

The chair was developed between 1991 to 1993. From original sketches, the design was put on the drawing board for documentation and development. Full-size fully-dimensioned prototype drawings were completed. A prototype was constructed (this is the actual prototype being donated). The legs frames were prototyped in 'aircraft ply" (painted silver) and for the seat and backrest a dummy mould was made to produce moulded plywood components (to replicate the potential production methods)'

This chair prototype was developed between 1991-1993 and taken to the Salone Del Mobile in Milan (Milan Furniture Fair) to present to prospective manufacturing clients.

Motivated by the desire to design a lightweight, mass-market stacking chair David Granger and Bryan Marshall of Bangdesign developed the 'Sunday' chair to prototype stage and presented it at the Salone del Mobile, Milan in 1994. Although unsuccessful in attracting a manufacturer in Italy, the chair was subsequently produced by Talon Technology, Sydney in 1995-97 using the company's unique carbon fibre/resin injection-moulding technology. Released as the Talon chair in 1997 it was the world's first carbon fibre chair designed for high volume production and subsequently won an Australian Design Award and a Powerhouse Museum Selection award in 2001. The 'Sunday' chair prototype was shown in the 1999 Powerhouse Museum exhibition '4+1' as part of the section devoted to the work of Bangdesign and including the Talon chair design development.

Chair, 'Sunday' (later renamed Talon Chair) prototype, plywood / plastic, designed by Bangdesign, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1991-1993

Prototype chair components comprising two side / leg frames in silver-painted 'aircraft' ply, a silver -painted polyurethane foam-core dummy mould seat and backrest, a plywood seat and backrest and assorted screws for assembly. The components are housed in a ply wood travelling case.

Designed: Bang Design; Sydney, New South Wales; 1991 - 1993

Designed: Granger, David; Sydney, New South Wales

Designed: Marshall, Bryan; Sydney, New South Wales

Used: Salone Internazionale del Mobile; Milan, Italy; 1994

See parts

2008/118/1

1991 - 1993