Introducing Pilot by Knoll™

Pilot by Knoll™ by Barber & Osgerby. Photograph by Ilan Rubin.

The latest in an ongoing collaboration with the British design pair Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, Pilot by Knoll™ is a sophisticated new lounge chair with a striking, slim profile, equally suited for the home or office. After its initial debut at the 2015 Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, Pilot by Knoll™ is now available from Knoll.

“When designing for a company like Knoll, one continuously wonders how to place new ideas into such an iconic collection.”

—Barber & Osgerby

Pilot by Knoll™ was first showcased at the 2015 Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan.

Embodying refinement, comfort, and craftsmanship, the chair is unmistakably contemporary but modern in sensibility. Pilot by Knoll™ features a cast-aluminum structure that links the crane-neck, 360-degree swivel base to the assembly of the seat and back, creating the impression that the cantilevered seat is almost floating. The extra space made possible by the chair's subframe allows its seat to flex downwards, while its soft, padded back curves to the body of its user, all resulting in an extremely comfortable sit.

Available in both high and low back versions as well as a range of leather and fabric upholstery options, Pilot by Knoll™ is a versatile lounge chair that can be adapted to match the aesthetics of any setting. Its armless, upholstered, or steel loop arm options and painted grey or polished aluminum base finishes make Pilot an endlessly customizable chair.  

The padded seat and back of Pilot by Knoll™ offers an unparalleled, luxurious sit.

The designers of the lounge chair, Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby, are well-versed in the delicate art of balancing tradition with innovation. "When designing for a company like Knoll, one continuously wonders how to place new ideas into such an iconic collection," they commented. "Our new Pilot chair not only responds to today’s needs, but also offers an elegant, innovative design for a different culture."

“Our new Pilot chair not only responds to today’s needs, but also offers an elegant, innovative design for a different culture.”

—Barber & Osgerby

Sketch for Pilot by Knoll™. Image courtesy of Barber & Osgerby.

Pilot continues Barber and Osgerby’s collaboration with Knoll after recent work on the Barber Osgerby Collection of sofas, armchairs and ottomans. A series of seater sofas, the collection made use of innovative connectors that provided both support and an aesthetic flourish. In 2015, Knoll introduced Piton—a fixed- and adjustable-height stool and side table with a tripod, conical base that similarly made transparent the fundamentals of its form.

Similarly, Pilot by Knoll™ involves a structural system as sophisticated as the rest of  Barber and Osgerby's designs. The chair is comprised of just six components, allowing for the practical benefits of smaller shipping dimensions and fast assembly. The easily interchangeable parts of the chair guarantee its longevity—Pilot is always capable of being refreshed as the need arises.

Pilot by Knoll™ is available in high and low back versions as well as a range of upholstery finishes.

Internationally acclaimed designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby met while studying architecture at The Royal College of Art in London. Upon graduating in 1996, the pair decided to open a studio together and moved to West London. The recipients of numerous awards, including the London Design Medal in 2015, Barber and Osgerby have kept busy with work in several key expositions in the design world.

Pilot by Knoll™ at the Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair. Photograph by Gustav Karlsson. Image courtesy of Barber & Osgerby.

As Guests of Honor at the 2016 Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair, the pair designed Triptych, an installation that explored the Scandinavian landscape through material and texture. Pilot chairs upholstered in animal hides made an appearance, along with Piton Side Tables and Stools. More recently, the pair designed a massive kinetic sculpture for the London Design Bienniale in 2016, echoing the same structural ingenuity and sophisticated resolutions that they brought to their furniture for Knoll.