jumbo's urban-wired chairs reimagine the public street landscape with loveseats

meet jumbo’s whimsical chairs

Jumbo, the brainchild of old friends Justin Donnelly and Monling Lee, is injecting a dose of whimsy into the world of urban design. Based in the heart of New York City, this dynamic duo embraces reductivism, highlighting the beauty of simplicity by paring down design elements to their fundamental components. The design philosophy marries technical precision with playful design elements, producing pieces that are both practical and subtly imaginative. Over the last two years, Jumbo unveiled two unconventional seating pieces that redefine the boundaries of creativity in furniture design: the Snow Fence Chair and the Barricade Chair.

the Snow Fence Chair 2023, all images Sean Davidson

Breaking the limits of Design standards

The Snow Fence Chair originated during the pandemic when inexpensive materials like snow fences were repurposed to cordon off various spaces, from outdoor seating to pedestrian streets. Jumbo seized this opportunity to transform the flexible polypropylene membrane of snow fences into inviting loveseats. The result is a piece that explores the material’s boundaries and demonstrates the duo’s innovative approach to material usage in furniture design. The Barricade Chair was exhibited at Anti Chairs at Emma Scully Gallery in May 2022. Responding to events like BLM, January 6 and the Dobbs’ abortion rights rollback, it became a symbol of Jumbo’s dedication to challenging the limits of traditional design standards. Taking the form of a protest barricade bent into a chair form, it suggests unity in something initially meant to divide. In a world where design meets activism, Jumbo’s creations are not just chairs; they are statements, provocations, and celebrations of the unexpected. Through their innovative use of materials and design choices, Justin Donnelly and Monling Lee continue to shape the conversation around functional furniture, proving that every seat can tell a unique story.

blending technical precision and playful creativity