Dunne & Raby use design as a medium to stimulate discussion and debate amongst designers, industry and the public about the social, cultural and ethical implications of existing and emerging technologies.
Hideaway Furniture Type 1 is part of the Designs for Fragile Personalities in Anxious Times series. There are three versions. Like the other pieces in the collection, they are designed to meet irrational but real needs, in this case, a fear of alien abduction.
There are three versions of the Hide Away Furniture. They are for people who are afraid of being abducted. Each opens in a surprising way without disturbing objects displayed on their surfaces. Their outside appearances say little about how they are made or used, they attempt to blend in with their surroundings. The interiors are lined with felt to muffle sounds. Each of the pieces is designed around a specific pose. The poses encourage the occupant to feel in control, proud and comfortable, the opposite of a foetal position which would make them feel like a victim. The poses also generate an unusual geometry helping to disguise the fact they can be occupied.
Anthony Dunne is professor and head of the Design Interactions department at the Royal College of Art in London. He studied Industrial Design at the RCA before working at Sony Design in Tokyo. On returning to London he completed a PhD in Computer Related Design at the RCA. He was a founding member of the CRD Research Studio where he worked as a Senior Research Fellow leading EU and industry funded research projects. Anthony was awarded the Sir Misha Black Award for Innovation in Design Education in 2009.
Fiona Raby studied Architecture at the RCA before working for Kei’ichi Irie Architects in Tokyo. She also holds an MPhil in Computer Related Design from the RCA. She was a founding member of the CRD Research Studio where she worked as a Senior Research Fellow leading externally funded research projects. She taught in Architecture for over 10 years before teaching in Design Interactions.