A blast from the past: 90s charm from Fatboy

The 90s revival is bringing bright colours and nostalgic brands to our living rooms. Fatboy’s creative director Pauline Barendregt combines sustainable materials, colourful designs and functionality to create this look.

Pauline Barendregt’s designs and concepts for Fatboy are intended to bring a smile to people’s faces and inspire them to take themselves less seriously through bold, unconventional and iconic designs in their everyday lives.

“When designing for Fatboy, our aim is to create clear and archetypal forms,” says Pauline Barendregt, creative director of the Dutch furniture brand, known for its iconic 90s beanbag. In addition to the fun of functionality, the focus is also on playful details that are not immediately apparent. Take, for example, the unassuming label on the Edison the Petit lamp, which serves as a light switch, or the buttons on the back of the the BonBaron armchair, which can be used to adjust the comfort. ​“Where functionality is often displayed on the outside and thus becomes part of the product’s visual identity, we aim to make the technical aspects of the design a visible part of the aesthetics – in a fun and light way.”

Touch me: textiles with texture

When it comes to the aesthetics and functionality of Fatboy’s designs, Pauline also sees textiles as playing a crucial role:​“The choice of fabric can completely change the identity of a product and influence its look and feel as well as its function. For example, our Sumo Sofa in Velvet has a luxurious, soft feel, while the same product in the more structured, tweed-like Mingle fabric creates a more casual, homely atmosphere.” Pauline learned how to tell stories and evoke emotions with fabrics during her time as Head of Design at G‑Star Raw.

“In terms of functionality, textiles also influence the way a product is experienced. Take our Original beanbag, for example, the Teddy fabric makes it incredibly soft and cuddly, perfect for cosy interiors. The stonewashed cotton canvas, on the other hand, makes it more robust. When the Original beanbag is covered in the heathered Olefin fabric, it transforms into a weatherproof product that is ideal for outdoor use. The versatility of textiles allows us to adapt products to different environments and purposes while maintaining their core functionality.”

No fear of colours

Even though Pauline draws inspiration from a wide range of things, she considers it important to always start with the core identity of the brand in the design process:​“We keep an eye on trends, but don’t follow them blindly. Instead, we focus on what fits with Fatboy’s playful and bold character.” At the moment, this would be the trend towards bold and bright colours, which is also rooted in the brand’s DNA: ​“This is something we naturally embrace because it aligns with our vision of creating fun, eye-catching products.”

Long-term companions

In addition to its sense of humour, Fatboy also stands for durability and clever design:​“Durability is an important focus in our design process. Our goal is to create products that last a lifetime, but can also be recycled easily.” That’s why the objects are designed so that they can be repaired and easily disassembled.​“For example, we designed our Sumo Sofa without glue or nails so that each component can be easily replaced or recycled.”

In addition, Fatboy is constantly researching the development and implementation of sustainable materials.​“Last year, we introduced the Original beanbag filled with EPS beads made from 100% post-consumer recycled packaging, which reduces our reliance on new resources,” Pauline explains.​“We are always looking for innovative, environmentally friendly materials and processes that minimise our environmental footprint while maintaining high-quality, fun products.”

fatboy​.com

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