Innovative panelling
WHAT TEAGUE WANTS IN 2020
In April 2019, Anthony Harcup joined Teague
in Seattle, which works at the cutting edge
of aircraft interiors architecture and design.
So in this new role what innovations is he
hoping to discover this year?
“The Teague team has spent time helping
me understand parts of the aircraft interior
design process that many designers don’t
get the privilege to see at close range – it
has been a real eye-opener,” says Harcup.
“A lot of my experience prior to coming to
Teague was devoted to working with airlines
to help them bring their brand to life in
the cabin through the experiences their
customers can touch and feel. Creating
‘moments that matter’ for customers
through thoughtful innovations is arguably
the most powerful way to make an
emotional connection with an airline brand,
and it is the ‘gold’ that designers are always
panning for throughout the life of any
aircraft interiors development programme.
“To make this connection you must
become a humble student of the airline, the
aircraft, the OEM, the suppliers and their
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192 MARCH 2020
processes to look for the opportunities
where you can make a difference.
“Over the course of my career, I have been
fortunate enough to have been a part of
some groundbreaking programmes, made
possible by airlines that were prepared to
embrace potential risk by developing
blue-sky interiors products. As the range
of interior products available has become
so diverse, there would appear to be less
appetite for risk. The nature of innovation
is evolving too, with the industry as a whole
becoming more designliterate,
and recognising
and embracing the
importance of design and
customisation. Many
successful and forwardthinking
interiors
companies are listening
to the airlines and
responding to their need
for customisation and
differentiation, through
a rethinking of business
models, customer engagement and
products. We are also seeing interesting
collaborations between materials and parts
suppliers, more seating companies offering
meaningful customisation, and more
advanced SFE options.
“This is what I would love to see this
year: suppliers enabling airlines to innovate
without risk, with well thought out, tested
and approved solutions that provide
designers with the tools that can help
bring airline brands to life in the cabin”.
MGR Foamtex is launching
NextGen, the next generation of
its MGRSoftWall cabin panels for
use on seat shells, monuments,
and around sleeping areas. The
Zotek F dual-density foam from
Zotefoams used in MGRSoftWall
NextGen is claimed to have
reduced the weight of these ‘soft
to touch’ cabin panels by up to
60%, which would translate to
savings of up to 100kg per aircraft.
The panels are designed for
haptic and aesthetic appeal, with
new processes and techniques
developed with Zotefoams,
Manson Design and NuUX that
enable various finishes, including
metallic trims, complex 3D forms,
decorative stitching, laser cutting,
and bespoke patterns debossed
into the decorative covering.
A demonstration seat shell
will be revealed this year to
demonstrate this work, including
a number of details to showcase
what can be achieved with
MGRSoftWall NextGen when
engineers and designers cocreate
from the outset. When used
on a seat shell, the panels cocoon
passengers from hard surfaces
and deaden aircraft noise.
MGRSoftWall NextGen was
shortlisted for this year’s Crystal
Cabin Awards.
The use of soft
panels within a seat
shell can enhance
comfort and
deaden sound
ANTHONY HARCUP JOINED TEAGUE
FROM ACUMEN DESIGN ASSOCIATES
INT ER IOR S I NNOVAT ION cabin materials
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