VRT Nieuws features Chairwave's social design philosophy

During Bright Brussels 2024, VRT Nieuws showcased VOUW's Chairwave installation in a prime-time interview with co-founder Mingus Vogel. Speaking to Belgian television viewers, Mingus explained the core philosophy behind the interactive seating installation: "Tegenwoordig gaan mensen zo vaak in publieke ruimte van elkaar afzitten en zitten op een telefoon... dus wij dachten hoe kunnen we juist technologie gebruiken om mensen bij elkaar te brengen" (Nowadays people so often sit apart from each other in public spaces and sit on their phones... so we thought how can we actually use technology to bring people together).

The interview captured the essence of VOUW's slowtech approach, demonstrating how Chairwave transforms the simple act of sitting into an invitation for human connection. When one person sits down, the adjacent chairs automatically unfold, creating seating options that naturally encourage strangers to sit side by side—the perfect catalyst for conversation.

This national television coverage highlighted how Chairwave addresses a growing societal challenge: the increasing isolation in public spaces despite our hyper-connected world. By reimagining how technology can serve human connection rather than hinder it, VOUW's design philosophy resonated with Belgian audiences during the country's presidency of the Council of the European Union, when themes of community and European values were particularly relevant.

The feature demonstrated Chairwave's effectiveness in action at King Leopold Park, where 11 seats arranged in a curved formation hosted a constant flow of visitors throughout the four-day festival, proving that thoughtful design can indeed bridge the gap between strangers in our increasingly disconnected urban environments.