To address the social alienation that contract design can impose on public spaces, Karim Rashid designed Heartbeat as a pulsating, alive respite to stagnation.

Totally reconfigurable and scalable, Heartbeat is composed of three distinct seating elements: straight, concave, and convex. Repositioning these three elements allows for the creation of a myriad of unique, morphing, undulating, physical landscapes.

The shape and direction of the alternating seating resembles a wave or a pulse, keeps guests from being seated back-to-back, and makes it effortless to spark interaction. Designed to facilitate conversation, Heartbeat suggests sharing a "heart to heart" with your fellow human being.

This project has been longlisted in the seating design category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Designer: Karim Rashid
Designer: Heartbeat