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Woman Designs Chair To Stop 'Manspreading'

Woman Designs Chair To Stop 'Manspreading'

Her design has just picked up a top award

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A student has designed a chair that stops 'manspreading' and has picked up a top award for her design.

Laila Laurel, 23, says she was inspired to create the chair, which makes use of two cleverly positioned bits of wood, following her own experiences of 'manspreading'.

Laila Laurel, 23, has won an award for anti-manspread chair.
University of Brighton/Laila Laurel

If you're unaware, 'manspreading' is the term used to describe when some fellas sit with their legs wide apart in public places, with a disregard for other people's personal space. It became a talked-about phenomenon back in 2013 and has since even been added to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Laurel, who is set to graduate with a degree in 3D Design and Craft from the University of Brighton later this month, said: "It came both from my own experiences of men infringing on my space in public, and also from 'The Everyday Sexism Project', a website founded by Laura Bates in which women self-testify about sexism they experience.

"With my chair set I hoped to draw awareness to the act of sitting for men and women and inspire discussion around this."

Laila created the chair after experiencing 'manspreading' in her own life.
Instagram/Laila Laurel

Her work has been awarded the Belmond Award for emerging talent, with a judging panel saying Laurel's chair was 'a bold, purpose-driven design that explores the important role of design in informing space, a person's behaviour and society issues of today'.

The award looks for designs that show 'imaginative and cleverly presented ideas with a considered overall look and feel along with the quality of work displayed'.

Laurel, who is from Norwich, said: "I am completely shocked but very happy and honoured to have won the Belmond Award - and I am looking forward to designing with them this year."

Dr Eddy Elton, a senior architecture and design lecturer at the University of Brighton, said: "Over the past month our students and staff have come together to work tirelessly on its design.

The design student has won an emerging talent award for her chair.
Instagram/Laila Laurel

"Winning the award at such a prestigious event, which is recognised by the professional design community, was an amazing achievement for our students and university.

"Seeing our students being called to the stage to receive this award is something I will be forever proud of."

Laurel hasn't stopped there with her chair designs either. She's created a second seat intended for women, which encourages them to sit with their legs a little wider apart.

Featured Image Credit: Laila Laurel/Instagram

Topics: uk news