The NON chair by Komplot Design celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025, marking a quarter-century since its introduction by Swedish manufacturer Källemo in 2000.
Created by Boris Berlin and Poul Christiansen, the Copenhagen-based design duo behind Komplot Design, this rubber chair represents a significant achievement in furniture design that challenges conventional aesthetics while maintaining functional excellence.
Metropolitan Home’s Design 100 famously described it as the “cleverest use of rubber since the eraser,” capturing the innovation behind this distinctive seating solution.
Boris Berlin, born in Saint Petersburg in 1953, and Poul Christiansen, born in Copenhagen in 1947, founded Komplot Design in 1987. Their partnership has produced numerous award-winning designs, but the NON chair stands as a testament to their philosophy of reducing design to its essential form. The designers describe NON as “the archetype of a chair, not a designed chair, just a chair.” This philosophical approach translates into a design that prioritizes universal functionality over stylistic embellishment, creating furniture intended for use anywhere the user chooses.
The NON chair features a tubular steel frame with PUR rubber molded directly onto the structure in a single-shot monoblock process. This manufacturing approach allows for geometric precision while maintaining comfort through the inherent softness of rubber and integrated spring steel bands in the backrest. The chair measures 77 cm in height, 44 cm in width, and 39 cm in depth, with a seat height of 45 cm. The result is geometrically straight yet comfortable seating that defies the typical trade-off between minimalist aesthetics and ergonomic support.
The rubber construction provides unique versatility, allowing the NON chair to function equally well indoors and outdoors. The material’s natural weather resistance, stackable design, and linking capability make it adaptable to residential, commercial, and institutional settings. Available in black, grey, and red finishes, the chair maintains its distinctive character across diverse applications while the rubber properties ensure durability in varying environmental conditions.
Källemo AB, the Swedish furniture manufacturer based in Värnamo, Småland, has produced the NON chair since its 2000 debut. Founded by design entrepreneur Sven Lundh in 1973, Källemo has built its reputation on creating furniture that, in Lundh’s words, must “stand the wear of the eye.” The company’s commitment to producing timeless, durable furniture with lasting relevance aligns perfectly with Komplot Design’s minimalist approach. Today, Källemo remains family-owned, operated by Lundh’s daughter Karin Lundh, maintaining the founding values while collaborating with gifted designers who share this vision of long-term sustainability and visual quality.
The NON chair received immediate recognition following its launch. In 2001, the design earned Bo Bedre’s Årets Designpris (Design of the Year), Utmärkt Svensk Form honorable mention, nomination for Den Danske Designpris, and first prize in the 100% RUBBER competition. The following year, Sköna Hem awarded it Årets Möbel (Furniture of the Year) in 2002. Metropolitan Home’s Design 100 featured the chair in 2003 with the memorable description highlighting its innovative rubber application. This string of awards validated Komplot Design’s experimental approach to materials and manufacturing processes.
The NON chair has achieved significant recognition within the design community beyond awards. The Museum of Modern Art in New York acquired the chair for its permanent collection in 2004, recognizing its contribution to contemporary furniture design. MoMA’s collection includes both the NON chair and Komplot Design’s GUBI chair, with both pieces selected for the museum’s interior spaces designed by architect Yoshio Taniguchi. The NON chair has also furnished various prestigious locations, from private residences to public interiors and cultural institutions worldwide, including Max restaurants designed by Wingårdhs.
The chair’s material innovation represents a significant departure from conventional furniture construction. By molding PUR rubber directly onto a tubular steel frame in one shot, Komplot Design eliminated traditional upholstery while creating a monolithic form that integrates structure, support, and surface. The built-in spring bands provide flexibility without visible mechanical components, maintaining the chair’s clean geometric lines while delivering ergonomic comfort. This technical achievement demonstrates how industrial processes can serve design philosophy rather than constraining it.
Komplot Design’s approach to the NON chair reflects their broader design philosophy of exploring new technologies and materials while maintaining focus on everyday functionality. The studio, which has collaborated with manufacturers including HAY, GUBI, Normann Copenhagen, and Lightyears, received the prestigious Thorvald Bindesbøll Medal from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2015, recognizing their excellence in applied art and industrial design.
The concept of the chair as archetype—”not a designed chair, just a chair”—reveals Komplot Design’s theoretical framework. By stripping away decorative elements and focusing on essential function, Berlin and Christiansen created a design that paradoxically becomes more distinctive through its pursuit of universality. This approach resonates with Scandinavian design traditions emphasizing democratic accessibility and functional honesty, while the rubber material and monoblock construction represent contemporary innovation.
The 25-year milestone for the NON chair demonstrates the enduring relevance of thoughtful minimalist design. While design trends have evolved significantly since 2000, the NON chair’s essential form and functional integrity continue to resonate with architects, designers, and consumers who value quality craftsmanship and timeless aesthetics. The chair’s presence in museum collections, its continued production by Källemo, and its string of international awards affirm its status as a modern design classic that successfully balances innovation with practicality.
KÄLLEMO AB,
Box 605, 331 26 Värnamo, Sweden
T:+46 370 150 00
info@kallemo.se
More designs by Komplot Design /
Boris Berlin & Poul Christiansen:
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