The Plan Collection by Barber Osgerby
The Plan Collection by British design studio Barber Osgerby for Fredericia, is a multifunctional collection of chairs, stools and tables suitable for modern working, dining, and living.
Materiality, tactility and crafted details enrich the industrial design of the chairs and tables, which at first glance appear almost austere in their simplicity.
Yet, in use, the generosity, comfort and subtle detailing of a design truly devolved around the human body become evident. The clean lines are infused with a richness of detail that adds presence and warmth wherever the collection it is used.
A different way of sitting: The Plan Cantilever Chair
A cantilever changes the experience of sitting: the motion and sway of the chair become part of the experience. Instead of resting rigidly on four legs, the tubular steel structure flexes subtly in response to the movements of the body.
Barber Osgerby’s first cantilever chair brings a new kind of movement to the Plan Collection. The latest addition to Fredericia’s Plan Collection by Barber Osgerby, and the British studio’s first cantilever chair, it is developed from the original Plan Chair, introduced in 2022. Retaining the collection’s hallmark – tubular steel, a light footprint and a seat and back shaped with the body in mind – the result is an archetypal chair with a different kind of movement.
Its construction also changes the chair visually. Seen from behind, the absence of rear legs makes the seat appear almost suspended, an effect particularly important for a chair that is often encountered around a table.
“The rear view has always held a particular magic,” says designer Jay Osgerby. “The seat appears to levitate, and since chairs are so often seen from behind, that view really matters. Plan Cantilever Chair is incredibly simple, but also rather cute and full of character.”
Plan Cantilever Chair retains the material versatility of the wider Plan Collection, with options ranging from plywood to upholstery and a choice of textiles and leathers. The upholstery is made without glue, making it easy to repair, or replace, while each component can be recycled. The tubular steel frame is available in six finishes, allowing the chair to belong naturally to the existing Plan family while giving the cantilever version its own distinct expression.
“ The chair really did almost draw itself, everything it needed was already in the Plan Chair. ”
Jay Osgerby
What simplicity takes: The Plan Studio Chair
The Plan Studio Chair explores the mechanics of movement and the things you might only notice through use. Swivel, tilt and height adjustment are seamlessly integrated into the visual identity of the Plan Collection.
The Plan Studio Chair was not originally part of the design brief. It emerged from conversations in Barber Osgerby’s studio about how the Plan Collection was being used, and where there was room to take it further.
Barber Osgerby worked closely with Fredericia to develop a four-star aluminium base specifically for the chair, rather than building the design around existing components. Its straight sections relate back to the tubular construction of the original Plan Chair, while its angles were developed around the requirements of the new base. That process extended to the smaller points of contact: how one part joins another, how a mechanism moves, what the hand touches when making an adjustment.
“Occasionally you design something and you think to yourself, ‘that went well’,” says Edward Barber, designer. “This was the case with the Plan Studio Chair. Its friendly character and total simplicity make it a pleasure to use.”
A focus on materiality: The Plan Wood Series
The Plan Wood Chair and Table are designed with soft proportions, comfort, and durability in mind. Rounded edges and sensorial surfaces make each piece as satisfying to touch as it is to use – whether around the dining table or in public spaces where people gather. It’s a collection that moves seamlessly with life, versatile enough to suit any setting.
The chair balances a compact silhouette with visible joinery that celebrates both the character of the oak and the care of its craftsmanship. The table complements this with clean, rounded lines and an oak tabletop radiating warmth and strength. Together, they form a cohesive set where understated elegance meets practical functionality. With the Plan Wood Series, the design duo built on the collection, celebrating enduring design, material honesty and furniture that evolves with its surroundings. The Plan Wood Chair and the Plan Wood Table incorporates a tactile dimension to the collection.
Crafted from FSC-certified oak, they introduce a warmer, more organic character to the collection's streamlined forms. Where the original Plan collection is defined by functional clarity and architectural precision, the wood edition brings new depth and material presence. The Plan Wood Chair and Table combine refined functionality with a sensitivity to the oak's inherent qualities.
Made to be mantained
The Plan Collection is a series of chairs and tables that blend enriching industrial design with meticulous materiality and craft details. With a design philosophy centered on creating daily joy, Barber Osgerby developed an innovative collection that meets Fredericia’s standards for elegant design, comfort, quality materials, and solid craftsmanship. The focus is on the design power of natural materials and unpretentious forms, evident in the carefully detailed upholstered chairs, solid wood tabletops, and the subtle yet distinctive design language.
In line with Fredericia’s impact initiatives, the tables are available with Kvadrat Really Textile Tabletops – an innovative solution made of upcycled end-of-life textiles. The material is circular, long-lasting and certified to the industry’s highest standard for wear and tear: category five surface resistance.
Chairs
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Tables
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Column Tables
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Keep exploring
Barber and Osgerby’s approach is characterised by its emphasis on experimentation and innovation and an exploratory attitude to materiality and colour. Learn more about their approach to design and the Plan Collection.
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