This article was taken from the October 2014 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Flying in Etihad Airways' private first-class en-suite bedroom, which launches this December? It was designed in London, by Acumen Design Associates and Factorydesign. Thai Airways, South African Airways and Cathay Pacific have sought out London designers, too. "The pre-eminence of the UK in design education gives the British industry an edge when it comes to defining functioning interiors," says Peter Tennent, cofounder of Factorydesign. In fact, the cabins for several airlines worldwide were created by four London design firms -- Priestmangoode, JPA Design, Acumen Design Associates and Factorydesign. "Our motor- and racing-car industries are great at high-quality, low-quantity production," says Paul Priestman, director of Priestmangoode. London's four main aviation consultancies, he says, borrow from that heritage. Here's a glimpse into how they work.
Factory Design A newcomer to the sector, Factorydesign has landed its biggest client so far with Etihad Airways. This layout was achieved by using a 5mm-thick lightweight material called E-leather. At just 30kg per triple seat, it reduces overall seat weight by about 950kg, which in turn could save $150,000-$200,000 (£88,000-£117,000) a year in fuel. Founded in 1997 by designers Peter Tennent, Adrian Berry and Adam White, it has worked with luxury brands such as Mont Blanc. "We have learnt to understand the intimacy between people and the objects or world around them," says Tennent.
Coming up: Cabin interiors for Four Seasons Hotels' luxury jet, launching in February 2015.
JPA Design
With a background in architecture and interior design, JPA Design's founder James Park has built a reputation for designing on-board areas that make the best use of limited space. "Cabins have a finite volume and airlines are keen to maximise their products to provide as much as they can for their passengers," says Park. For Singapore Airlines' investment in its new Boeing 777-300ERs, Park has created the ultimate business-class cabin with lie-flat seating and walk-up bar. These projects are spearheaded by JPA's dedicated transportation team, which follows mobility trends and adapts them for aircraft design. Park first made his name with rail projects such as the Orient Express. Since then, his client list has included Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, US Airways and American Airlines.
Coming up: JPA will start to design airport lounges and cabin interiors for Air China over the next two years.
Acumen Design Associates Acumen has more than 15 patented airline products flying -- more than any of its competitors, claims founder Ian Dryburgh.
Its latest project was installing divan-style first-class beds for Etihad Airways. The bed mechanism -- with retracting and rotating lap belts -- is made to fit into a volume 3.8cm thick, to maximise the under-bed stowage. A former automotive designer, Dryburgh devised British Airways' first "bed in the sky".
Coming up: Acumen is negotiating with airlines to launch its business-class seat which converts into the length of standard first-class beds while allowing for a high-density cabin layout.
PriestmangoodeThe biggest UK player in this sector, Priestmangoode has a London staff of 50. "We have worked for more airlines and aircraft manufacturers than anyone else," says cofounder Paul Priestman.
This includes Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways. It also collaborates with aircraft suppliers and manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing and B/E Aerospace to sell new concepts to airlines.
Its big break was building Virgin Atlantic's first flat-bed seat, pioneering a new type of luxury long-haul comfort.
Coming up: Air France's new first-class flat beds, which are over 2m long and 77cm wide, due to their fully retractable arm rests.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
