Interview with Sebastian Herkner

Q&A on the new Aristo chair series

Photo: © Gaby Gerster

At the Salone del Mobile.Milano 2025, ClassiCon will be presenting Aristo, a comfortable, timelessly elegant fine dining chair and armchair designed by Sebastian Herkner. In this interview the acclaimed German designer reveals details about the development of the new, elaborately upholstered tubular steel furniture.

What was the concept behind Aristo?

Sebastian Herkner: The intention was that the new fine dining chair and armchair for ClassiCon should be particularly comfortable, so that you enjoy sitting on it for a long meal with friends, for example. It also had to fit in with the brand and the existing portfolio. Chromed or matt black powder-coated tubular steel is a key material in the ClassiCon collection – design classics such as the Adjustable Table E1027 by Eileen Gray are made of it. The new chair series ties in with this, and of course, it had to meet ClassiCon's high standards of quality and workmanship down to the last detail. In terms of form, the design had to be so unobtrusive that it could be combined with a wide variety of classic and contemporary tables.

How did the Chair and Armchair get their name?

Sebastian Herkner: The name Aristo is derived from the ancient Greek word ‘áristos’ (ἄριστος), which means ‘the best’, ‘the most excellent’ or ‘the noblest’. It was often used in ancient times to describe excellence, the highest quality and virtue. The name alludes to the classic elegance of the design that comes with a modern touch. It also emphasises the high quality of the furniture and its excellent workmanship down to the last detail. The precise design and premium workmanship give the chair its refined elegance.

The design of the backrest is a special feature of Aristo: the tubular steel frame encloses the upholstery that forms the comfortable chair back, thereby outlining the entire backrest. What looks so natural and flowing in the production-ready model was extremely challenging to implement technically. We managed to solve this particular construction detail, which characterises the design, in such a way that the frame does not require any visible connections in the steel tubing.

What makes the chair so exceptionally comfortable?

Sebastian Herkner: The double upholstery of the seat makes Aristo extraordinarily comfortable. The shadow gap between the upholstered base and the thick seat cushion with spring core is a striking detail that immediately catches the eye and is also pleasant to the touch – the same is true for the shiny polished chrome tubing and the high-quality leather or fabric covers. It is important to me that you can develop a sensory connection to a piece of furniture, that the user can grasp and understand it. The chair and the version with armrests also allow for different sitting positions and thus facilitate communication at the table, both individually and in combination. During the product development phase, we worked intensively on formulating the inclination and geometry of the back and seat upholstery in such a way that it is perceived as comfortable and makes long periods of sitting more pleasant.