Adam Cornish’s skills are multifaceted. Working from his independent design studio in Melbourne, Cornish finds the natural expression in any product he tackles and wrangles it into a strong, elegant, and simple design solution. His latest design, the Maki chair for Cantarutti, is a strong case in point.

Diving into his love for the design and collaboration with Cantarutti, Cornish says, “I have a strong desire with design to simplify and pare things back, both structurally and … from a visual language point of view. This project exemplifies this desire. The chair body is only two components working in tandem with each other to form a shell. The visual language is quaint and honest. Everything I want a chair to be.”

And a chair it is.

The Maki chair toes the line between simple design and intricate elements. The backrest, made of laminated plywood, loops laterally through the chair, presenting a distinct and sharp figure. Its structural integrity is enforced with a hidden juncture on the chair’s underside, which allows the design to breathe and expel an air of elegance.

“There is so much that goes into a good chair. Such a subtle balancing act that I am always trying to improve. I am pleased with the hidden connection detail that holds all the components together. The two plywood components sandwich the metal frame, and bolts clamp it together. Very simple and unique to this chair. I like that it is hidden. If you pick the chair up to inspect, you will see this hidden, hard-working detail,” says Cornish. 

During the 2022 Salone del Mobile, Cornish and Cantarutti unveiled a collection born from the Maki chair’s original design. Called the Maki chair family, the collection included stacking chairs, armchairs, and barstools of various designs. 

“Off the success of the chair, we were asked to consider further typologies. The ribbon-style backrest lent itself to stools and an armchair version, so we decided to include them in the collection,” says Cornish of the Maki chair’s expansion into a full family of products.

The Maki’s DNA runs through the collection, each product embodying the plywood elements and simple yet intricate details that can proudly reside in residential and commercial environments. 

Exciting possibilities have stemmed from this collaboration, and as Cornish hints: “We have been working for years with plant-based horticultural design. I grew up on a fern nursery, and this has been a very special project. We will be able to share more on these projects in late 2022.”

Adam Cornish Design
adamcornish.com

Cantarutti
cantarutti.com

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