P.R.O.O.F.

Seoul studio TIEL revisits Gerrit Rietveld's 1918 chair with industrial materials

Date

October 2, 2025

Seoul-based studio TIEL created P.R.O.O.F., an armchair that takes Gerrit Rietveld's Red and Blue Chair as its starting point. The name stands for Profiling Rietveld on Original Forethought.

The designers replace wood with standardized aluminum profile systems. High-density polyethylene planks form the seat and back. 3D-printed shock mounts in thermoplastic polyurethane connect the planks to the aluminum frame. The material choices prioritize recyclability and flat-pack shipping.

Rietveld designed his chair in 1918 for mass production using readily available parts. TIEL applies that same logic with contemporary materials and manufacturing methods. The aluminum extrusion system makes the structure more rigid than wood while allowing disassembly.

The project emerged from the designers' time at Design Academy Eindhoven, where Rietveld's influence remains strong. Back in Seoul, they translated that Dutch design history through Korean manufacturing capabilities and current sustainability concerns.

P.R.O.O.F. demonstrates how historical designs can inform new work without straight reproduction. The result is functional furniture that acknowledges its source while solving different problems.

Designer/Studio

TIEL

TIEL is a Seoul-based design studio creating furniture and objects that bridge historical references with contemporary manufacturing methods and materials.

Photo Credits

tabial