The Golden Years Lounge Chair emerged from the Retired Pallet Project, a circular design challenge aimed at breathing new life into discarded wooden pallets. To kick off this challenge, I was fortunate enough to stumble upon some pallets near my studio, remnants from a construction site within walking distance. Eagerly, I brought them home, disassembled them, and began their transformation into retirement.

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Pallets spend their days tirelessly lifting heavy loads; it's ingrained in their nature. Thus, when considering what to repurpose them into, I envisioned a chair. It's a simple concept, yet one that retains the essence of "lifting," though on a much lighter scale—a metaphor for the retired lifestyle, familiar yet transformed.

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In the design process, I found myself drawn to the support slots where forklift arms once nestled. These slots became integral to my chair, repurposed as handles for lifting or moving the chair by hand. Their function and visual presence subtly pay homage to the material's past life.

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Opting for a lounge chair style offered a relaxed sitting experience, much like the retirement a pallet would cherish. It provides a comfortable haven where the pallet can spend its remaining days, embracing a new purpose with dignity.