Aircraft seating company Thompson Aero Seating has announced a new design project inspired by the landscape of Northern Ireland, Project Echo, which is showcased in the latest Vantage seating range.
The company says Project Echo has initially been used to refresh the brand aesthetic of Thompson’s own ‘marketing’ seats, but all materials are based on ready-for-flight options and grounded in certification reality.
Ireland’s landscape has influenced Thompson’s CMF team when it comes to colours and texture, which uses a layering of tinted darks, pops of brighter colours and highlights to capture the spirit of the land. Cleaning and maintenance have both also been carefully considered – although the fabrics are light in colour, they are textured and wipe-clean.
Belinda Mason, CMF Designer at Thompson Aero Seating, says: “Our aim has been to create a narrative for Thompson that is a reflection of our culture. We have interpreted colours and textures into visuals, using nature and the chemistry of its colours as our influence. The result is a feeling of quiet luxury.
“Our range of seats constantly evolves. Under Project Echo, we have made ourselves the client and created a unified pallet that gives alignment to each seat design, bringing them within the brand range as a whole.”
According to Thompson, Project Echo has the advantage of standardising many of the materials used within the seating range, making the supply of materials easier to manage, with more economies of scale.
Thompson’s seating range within Project Echo includes:
Vantage: The redesign has introduced a lighter outer shell with a darker inner core. This, married with shades of natural stone and lighter woods, gives a distinct aura of quality.
VantageXL: An intense dark surround and sumptuous leather inner give the VantageXL a subtle confidence. The enhanced front row conveys first class with deep moss-greens and velvety suedes.
VantageSOLO: The enhanced front row of the VantageSOLO uses soft tan leather as a pop of colour. The CMF options correlate with the changing offering, defining each category of seat.
VantageDUO: The VantageDUO cocoons the passenger with a dark fabric wrapping, highlighted with a lighter inner seat and light stone-coloured worktops. Premium leathers bring a feel that is as good as the look.
The Vantage seating range with the new Project Echo designs will be launched at AIX 2024 in Hamburg.
