Milan 2016: Swiss studio Big-Game has added to the growing list of children's products launching in Milan with a miniature adjustable plastic chair (+ slideshow).
Big-Game's Little Big Chair features a lightweight plastic seat shell that fits over a wooden frame, and is designed for kids from two to six years old.
It was designed for Italian design brand Magis' Me Too range of products aimed specifically at children.
A swathe of brands are poised to present furniture for younger users during this year's Milan design week. Kartell will launch a collection of plastic toys and furniture, and Gebrüder Thonet Vienna will debut a bent-wood rocking horse.
"Children are a specific audience, but we believe the design process is the same as when designing objects for adults," said Augustin Scott de Martinville, who co-founded Big-Game in 2004 with Elric Petit and Grégoire Jeanmonod.
Available in three colours, the Little Big Chair can by adjusted to three different heights so it can grow up with its user.
Sliding plastic elements that extend down from the seat cover the legs. These can be slid up or down and secured with simple white pegs.
Although aimed for children's bottoms, the plastic seat is strengthened to withstand an adult standing on it.
"As a first chair, it is definitely an object that creates emotional ties – we wanted it to have the qualities of an adult chair but for children," said Big-Game.
The studio, which has designed everything from apartments to doorknobs, undertook a lot of research to ensure the seat i both simple and comfortable for kids.
"On the contrary to an adult chair, it is more complex to get a direct feedback on the comfort – we had to do quite a bit of research on the topic," Scott de Martinville told Dezeen.
Magis will present the chair at this year's Salone del Mobile furniture fair, which will take place from 12 to 17 April 2016 during Milan's annual design week.
Other products set to launch at the fair include a cabinet with coloured glass windows by the Campana brothers and a set of leaning marble tables by Nendo.