Emmett
Outdoor Folding Chair for True Places
The portable chair reimagined for the modern outdoors. Remarkable comfort, lightweight portability and thoughtful features combine to create an innovative outdoor folding chair reflecting the way people live today. New patent-pending folding design eliminates sagging and pinching from the seat while still folding compactly. The Emmett includes custom TrueflexTM outdoor fabric and aerospace-grade aluminum frame, accessories for right or left, bottle-openers under both arms, bag hooks and large feet for stability.
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Download Press Kit № 130592 Outdoor Folding Chair for True Places by Ben Knepler to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.
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True Places Emmett by Ben Knepler
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Outdoor Folding Chair by Ben Knepler
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Ben Knepler True Places Emmett
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Ben Knepler Outdoor Folding Chair
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True PlacesBrand Logo
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Emmett Outdoor Folding Chair Media Articles
Our Emmett articles are prepped and available in these languages: Korean, Japanese, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, German, French, Indonesian, Dutch, Portuguese, Turkish, Arabic (Standard), Spanish, English and Hindi, ready for your use.
Unique Properties
The portable chair reimagined for the modern outdoors. Remarkable comfort, lightweight portability and thoughtful features combine to create an innovative outdoor folding chair reflecting the way people live today. New patent-pending folding design eliminates sagging and pinching from the seat while still folding compactly. Custom TrueFlexTM outdoor fabric and aerospace-grade aluminum frame. Accessories for right or left, bottle-openers under both arms, bag hooks and large feet for stability.
Tags
Outdoor, furniture, chair, portable, comfort, lightweight
Production Technology
Aluminum 6000 series TrueFlexTM fabric (polyester, nylon) Glass-filled nylon components Recycled polyester (carrying bag)
Design Challenge
There has historically been significant tension between comfort and portability in outdoor furniture design. Creating a piece of furniture that includes a comfortable, taut seat while still also folding compactly was a difficult design and engineering challenge. Furthermore, portable outdoor chair development in recent decades has focused on cutting costs at the expense of quality. Creating real portable comfort that can be affordably produced at scale was also a considerable challenge.
Project Duration
The project started in August 2019 in Philadelphia and New York City and was completed in July 2021 in Shanghai.
Operation Flow
The Emmett features a new folding design: the chair can be folded out in one motion until the arms lock to create a remarkably comfortable, taut seat. The chair is easily folded by unlocking the arms using the armrest buttons and folding the arms upward and inward to a compact folded position. The chair can then be stowed in the custom designed sustainable carrying bag. Each chair can be carried over the shoulder or two chairs can be connected to be carried backpack-style.
Research
Extensive qualitative and quantitative research across hundreds of consumers informed the design of the Emmett. The research identified significant dissatisfaction with current outdoor portable chair options, particularly in terms of comfort and design. With more people spending quality time with family and friends outdoors, the Emmett fills an important need for well-designed comfort for the modern outdoors.
Inspiration
The modern outdoors - relaxing with neighbors, concerts in the park, watching children playing sports - is meaningful time with family and friends, but is often not matched by the quality of products people use. Why are portable chairs so uncomfortable, and comfortable chairs immovable? True Places began by asking "What if beautifully-designed and comfortable outdoor furniture can also be portable? What if modern design and engineering can create a folding chair of quality that matches the rest of people’s lives?"
Image Credits
True Places, Inc.
Project Overview
Emmett Outdoor Folding Chair has been a Bronze winner in the Outdoor Gear and Camping Equipment Design award category in the year 2021 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Bronze Recognition
Ben Knepler was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2022, a testament to excellence of their work Emmett Outdoor Folding Chair.
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