Thomas Heatherwick and Magis Redefine Outdoor Furniture Through Process, Material, and Imagination

In contemporary design, true innovation rarely emerges from aesthetics alone. It is born from process — from a willingness to challenge convention, interrogate materials, and expose the hidden mechanics behind creation itself. With In-Side, the groundbreaking collection designed by Thomas Heatherwick for Magis, outdoor furniture becomes far more than a functional object. It transforms into an exploration of experimentation, sustainability, and the expressive possibilities of industrial production.

At once sculptural and deeply tactile, the collection reimagines rotational moulding technology through an unexpected lens. Traditionally valued for efficiency and durability, the manufacturing process is elevated here into a visible design language — one that celebrates imperfection, individuality, and material honesty.

Comprising an armchair, sofa, and low table, In-Side is defined by a compelling relationship between exterior and interior. While the outer forms possess Heatherwick’s signature sense of softness and generosity, it is the hidden inner surfaces that reveal the collection’s true identity. Crafted from a carefully developed blend of virgin, post-consumer, and post-industrial recycled polyethylene, the material is embedded with vibrant multi-coloured flakes created through extensive research and experimentation. Once rotationally moulded, these fragments generate richly textured interiors bursting with unexpected colour and pattern.

No two pieces are ever identical.

Each object carries its own distinct visual composition — a spontaneous interplay of pigment, texture, and recycled matter that turns every armchair, sofa, and table into a singular artefact. In doing so, In-Side quietly challenges the uniformity often associated with industrial production, replacing repetition with individuality and character.

The collection’s conceptual strength lies in its ability to expose what manufacturing typically conceals. Rather than hiding the mechanics of production, Heatherwick makes them central to the narrative. As he explains, “The shape of this collection is all derived from trying to show off the insides of the process that made it.”

That philosophy is realised through a meticulous three-stage production technique. First, the polyethylene mixture is rotationally moulded into its initial form. The pieces are then cut open along the sides, revealing the vivid internal surfaces concealed within. Finally, the separated sections are inverted and reattached to the structure — a process that both stabilises the furniture and proudly showcases the energetic interior textures that define the collection’s unmistakable visual identity.

The result is furniture that feels simultaneously industrial and handcrafted; technologically advanced yet emotionally expressive.

Beyond its visual impact, In-Side also reflects Magis’ longstanding commitment to innovation through new constructive languages and material experimentation. Sustainability is not treated as an aesthetic gesture or marketing afterthought, but as an integral component of the creative process itself. By utilising recycled polyethylene in such a visually celebratory way, the collection reframes waste as opportunity — transforming discarded material into something vibrant, joyful, and enduring.

Despite its conceptual depth, comfort remains central to the experience. Generous proportions, ergonomic contours, and durable construction ensure the collection performs effortlessly in outdoor environments while maintaining a bold architectural presence. There is a playfulness to the forms, softened by meticulous detailing and balanced by the confidence of their sculptural silhouettes.

Even the name, In-Side, encapsulates the project’s layered thinking. It references both the visible inner surfaces revealed through production and the innovative mindset embedded within the collection itself. The title becomes a succinct expression of Magis’ broader creative philosophy: one rooted in curiosity, experimentation, and a continual pursuit of innovation with sustainability at its core.

In an era increasingly defined by conscious design and material responsibility, In-Side offers a compelling vision for the future of furniture. It demonstrates that sustainability need not compromise creativity — that industrial processes can become poetic, and that the hidden aspects of making can, in fact, become the most beautiful part of the story.

Contact: Magis