'lean on' seat gives moments of rest between sitting and standing

wonchul lee and boyeon kim unveil ‘lean on’

Designers Wonchul Lee and Boyeon Kim draw on the ‘ambiguity of three minutes’ to suggest a solution to the fleeting moment of rest between sitting and standing with ‘Lean On’. Three minutes is an ambiguous measure of time used routinely in our daily lives. From running time for music, to brushing teeth and travel time between subway stations — there are countless examples.

The act of leaning too can provide a few minutes of relief without having to take a seat or stand around. Drawing on this, the designers came to a solution to devise a steel and leather furniture object that curves in one seamless motion to provide contoured support to the body of its user as they rest against it.

‘Lean On’ | all images by Ho-jeong Yun

a space for transitionary rest

‘Three minutes is neither too short nor too long, giving us some ambiguity to do a certain action, and in such a time we are placed in a situation where it is too short to sit and too long to stand,’ notes Wonchul Lee. As such, ‘Lean On’ draws on the intermediate action of leaning to provide comfort during those few transitionary moments. 

The designers shape the furniture object with a sleek steel frame and plate designed to support the weight of the user. In one motion, the steel frame undulates to form the base support, main frame, and hip and back rest, as it vaguely follow the contours of their body for comfort. An undulating canvas of two-toned leather is fitted between the frame for the seating, injecting an additional sense of vibrancy to the space it occupies.

Wonchul Lee and Boyeon Kim devise a solution for the ambiguous moment between sitting and standing

a tubular steel frame curves in one seamless motion to form the base, structure, and support

different colors of leather form the seat

the hip and back rest discreetly follows the contours of their body for comfortable use

project info:

name: Lean On
designer: Wonchul Lee, Boyeon Kim

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom