JoinLog InSign Up How the Iconic Tripp Trapp High Chair Came to LifeBy / Published by – August 16, 2015An artful reminiscence of Rietveld’s 1934 Zig-Zag chair—with a spare, wooden geometric frame in the shape of a letter Z, and bearing a name equally alliterative—the Tripp Trapp, designed by Peter Opsvik, distinguishes itself from other high chairs in that it allows children to sit closer and more intimately to the family dining table. "I tried to find a chair that allowed our [then-] two-year-son to sit comfortably together with us at the table," the Norwegian industrial designer recalls. "So I had to figure out the solution myself." A 2013 portrait of Norwegian furniture designer Peter Opsvik in his workshop, a venue he finds "more suitable for experiments than the computer."Selling more than 9 million chairs to date, the Tripp Trapp has remained in continued production since its launch in 1972. With movable seat and footrest panels that can be adjusted to a user’s growing height, the timeless design is built to be long-enduring for its individual user, as well: It can be used comfortably from infancy to adulthood, scaling up from a high chair to a task chair that accommodates users of up to 300 pounds.
For Opsvik, who has focused on ergonomic design for more than 45 years through his independent, Oslo-based practice, the Tripp Trapp remains his most famous work. "It is satisfying to see that products that solve everyday challenges are appreciated," he says. "The distinct visual form gives Tripp Trapp longevity. It does not look old-fashioned and thus, there is no reason to replace it." Available in a range of colors, the Tripp Trapp comes with add-on accessories including the Baby Set, which securely seats children from 6 months to 3 years old.An early sketch of the chair shows Opsvik’s concept of an ergonomic design for users of varying heights and sizes. Here, the sitter’s elbow is shown aligned at table height, regardless of body size.Kaare Stokke, owner and CEO of Stokke, which has manufactured the Tripp Trapp since 1972, fronted one of the first marketing campaigns for the chair in 1974. Seated with his wife and children in Opsvik’s design, Stokke publicized it as an ergonomic chair for the whole family.
Opsvik first developed the idea for the Tripp Trapp after observing that his son, Tor—shown in a 1972 Stokke booklet struggled to sit correctly and comfortably in an adult chair. "Double-size furniture is a way of understanding how three-year-olds perceive their surroundings," says Peter Opsvik in Rethinking Sitting.Featured on a 1970s cover of Nye Bonytt (a Norwegian interior magazine now called Bonytt), the Tripp Trapp revolutionized seating for the entire family. Adults and children alike are shown seated in the chair, accompanied by the heading: "This year’s furniture."Author, Twenty Over Eighty: Conversations on a Lifetime in Architecture and Design (Princeton Architectural Press, 2016). Visiting instructor, Pratt Institute. Download our iOS AppAdvertise on DwellYou are looking at: Home : News & Gossip : Food & Lifestyle Shopping Keep your child safe and comfortable with our round-up of the latest, most stylish highchairs designed to make eating together easy How the Stokke Steps design grows with your child
Stokke have created this new modular Steps system featuring a wooden frame and the option of adding a soft 2-in-1 Bouncer attachment for a newborn baby (+£75), or the Baby Set (+£47) with adjustable back and footrest, or just the chair which offers adjustable support for all ages. There are also optional tray and cushion add-ons available (+£33). The perfect chair to grow with your child, allowing them to share family meals at the table. Two pretty new pastel colours for the BabyBjorn highchair The clever designers at Swedish company BabyBjorn have added two new pastel pink and turquoise colours to their iconic highchair design - perfect if the original navy/white colourway didn't suit. This highchair has the bonus of allowing your child to be put in and taken out from the side, so not too much heavy lifting, and requires no harness as the foldout tray wraps securely around your child. It's suitable from 6m+ and requires no assembly. The Nomi adapts from baby seat to pre-schooler chair
This elegant Nomi highchair from Evomove has been designed by Peter Opsvik, the original Tripp Trapp creator. It features a fixed, curved stem with interchangeable sitting options - both the seat and footrest are height adjustable, plus you can add a baby recliner to make it suitable from birth, as shown (+£95). There are wheels hidden in the base for easy movement, and it's available in seven bold colour options. Optional extras include a baby restraint (+£35), plus cushion (+£35). The Cosatto Waffle highchair features a pretty new 'Pippy' print Add a splash of colour to your eating area with the aid of this smart wood and metal folding highchair. The Waffle, from Cosatto, is suitable from 6m+ and features a multi-position adjustable seat and footrest so it can grow with your child. The double tray is removable or can flip over to enable dining table eating, and the insert tray is washable. Frame folds for neat storage, plus there's a full five-point harness and washable padded seat liner.
Moodelli's Growi highchair offers lots of different uses A simple beech frame gives this adaptable highchair a solid and stylish look and feel, while different seats can be created out of one smart buy. The Moodelli Growi has been cleverly designed to accommodate a padded bouncer, which is suitable from birth and has three tilt positions. The bouncer in turn converts into a highchair seat with the addition of a tray, harness and bar. Once your little one has outgrown the highchair, the frame separates to become a low level chair. The stylish and simple Nuna Zaaz highchair For a highchair with all the hallmarks of simplicity, functionality and stylish good looks, the Nuna Zaaz offers parents and children a big helping of all three. Suitable from 6m+ to up teenager, this height-adjustable chair is made from high quality materials and features a full five-point harness. All the elements are adjustable and/or removable (like the harness, seat and tray), and are dishwasher-safe, too.
There are no food traps plus the seat is wipe clean and comes in three colour options. Clever combination of wood and folding frame from Babymoov For families who want the aesthetic look and durable feel of a wooden highchair, combined with the practical and lightweight functionality of a folding design, the answer could be the new Babymoov Light Wood. Weighing in at only 6.5kg the wooden framed chair folds flat for storage but still manages to offer a fully adjustable seat and footrest. No assembly is required (i.e. good to go straight from the box), and it features a detachable tray, five-point harness and two colour options (as shown). An insert cushion is also available (+£24.99). Sleek and streamlined Curve Multi Height highchair You can choose between the sleek, chic white finish of this East Coast Nursery highchair (£119.99), or the warm, wooden hues of a natural rubberwood design. Either way, what you get is a smart and stylish highchair which includes a full safety harness plus adjustable seat and footrest heights.
The tray is removable for up-to-table use, and there's the option of adding a wooden bumper bar instead for safety (extra). Sturdy and colourful Oxo Tot Sprout highchair You can match the natural or dark wood frame on the Oxo Tot Sprout highchair with three seat colour options to create the perfect look for your kitchen or dining room. This smart and durable highchair is suitable from 6m+ and includes a contoured seat, back and cushions, one-handed tray adjustment, three seat height and depth positions, plus removable wipe-clean foam cushions. It's certainly built to last and look good! The new Stokke Tripp Trapp colours will enhance any living space The iconic Stokke Tripp Trapp range has added two new colourways for this season, designed to add some style and sophistication to feeding time. Choose from Hazy Grey (as shown) or Soft Pink. The wooden Z-framed basic highchair includes an adjustable seat and footrest, but other accessories can be added to make it suitable from birth, and for young babies, including: Newborn Set (+£), Baby Set (+£), Cushions (+£).