Profim Unelo

Circularity and efficiency drove the design of Unelo from the start. Pearson Lloyd developed a single industrial platform for Profim, where shared components reduce the material and tooling a family of chairs needs. Those savings make Unelo accessible to a wide range of projects. Its construction uses no adhesives, so every chair can be taken apart for repair or recycling.

For Profim, the platform turns one investment in tooling and engineering into a broad, coherent collection. For the people who sit in it, Unelo is friendly and comfortable, with its ergonomics and engineering resolved within a simple, approachable form.

Designing the platform first
We approached Unelo as a question of product strategy. We mapped the range of chairs Profim’s customers need, then designed one common platform to deliver them. Four shells and four base types share bespoke parts, giving Profim a wide collection from shared components.

Using the scale of industry
Much of a manufacturer’s investment is committed in tooling. We designed each Unelo component to make the most of that investment, optimising it for material efficiency and manufacture and using it across as many models as possible. Just a few moulds produce the whole family, giving Profim fewer tools to make and maintain, and a level of refinement that would be hard to reach in four separate chairs. Those savings help keep Unelo accessible to a wide range of projects.

Comfort built in
We designed the comfort into the form of the chair. Engineered foams and armrests that support the forearm at table height make Unelo comfortable from the moment someone sits down. With no mechanisms to learn or adjust, the chair is approachable for anyone who uses it, and straightforward for Profim to build at a price that suits large projects. 

Designed for disassembly
Every Unelo chair is assembled without adhesives and can be fully disassembled into its parts for repair or recycling. Customers can replace the upholstery without specialist tools to keep chairs in use for longer, and Profim can refurbish chairs or recover their materials at the end of their life. Unelo contains up to 68% recycled content, and its carbon footprint is 30% lower than similar products.

Building on Revo
Our work on Revo set a new benchmark for Profim in construction and circular thinking. With Unelo, we carry those principles into a new typology and across an entire family of chairs.

A collection for many settings
People now move between many kinds of workspace throughout the day, from meeting rooms to social areas. We gave Unelo a high back armchair, a low back armchair, a side chair and bar and counter stools, all in one design language. Profim’s sales teams can offer one collection across workplace and hospitality projects.

Longlasting character
We wanted Unelo to be smart and friendly. Its design steers clear of passing trends, so it can sit in many kinds of interior and remain relevant for years to come.