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It’s been a while since Jeff Covey has been interviewed and now we know why, he’s been really enjoying his life and beautiful panoramic views of 50 acres of organic olive orchard!
"It has taken on a life of its own"
Office Designs: The base design of the Model Six Stool is interesting, with triangles softened by circles, what inspired you?
Jeff Covey: I enjoy the quiet elegance of structure & utility. The stool as a whole was based on it. When it shipped flat, you would attach the legs to the hub and then the triangle would slip over the tops of the legs, indexing into their appointed areas, thus creating a rigid form. Very satisfying. A surprise.
OD: You’ve made recent significant design changes to your Model Six Stool to enhance its performance, why?
JC: They are changes I’ve wanted to make for years, I want to produce the best possible product I can. Quality is extremely important to me.
That’s why I chose to stay with my manufacturer here in the U.S., they also produce all Eames furniture.
I thank Herman Miller for the Home for their support thru this transition.
OD: Since it’s well known that you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, and the Model Six Stool’s a structurally
simple design too, is there any correlation?
JC: I actually am no longer into motorcycles. It was a passion for many years, but I have moved onto other things.
The only correlation would be engineering. Once again: the love of a pure form.
OD: The Model Six Stool was called a “study of a production process;” what was the most fascinating thing you learned about manufacturing furniture?
JC: How difficult it is. It is definitely a test in tenacity.
OD: What’s the most interesting place or use you’ve seen for the Model Six Stool (besides in the “School of Rock”)?
JC: I didn’t know that. I am told It appears in magazines, on TV, in film, architectural projects etc. I don’t always catch it. But when I do see it, It’s very odd. It’s familiar, yet somehow distant. It has taken on a life of its own. I don’t own a TV and I tend to stay away from popular media.
OD: Why are the hub and seat of the Model Six Stool cast aluminum, while the rest is steel?
JC: The hub & seat flange are aluminum because I enjoy the material.
OD: Why did you switch from minimum packaging to a fully-assembled Model Six Stool for shipping?
JC: When I licensed it to Herman Miller they decided to ship it assembled. I decided to continue it.
"I have a beautiful shop that I built out of recycled material I found on craigslist."
Jeff Covey's natural panorama
OD: In your travels, what is the most remarkable place you visited, design-wise or architecturally?
JC: Nature.
OD: Do you live in the country? A loft, home or apartment?
JC: I live in the country, in an old mobile home. I have a beautiful shop that I built out of recycled material I found on craigslist. It has double sliding doors at both ends and one side. I open every door and look out over 50 acres of organic olive orchard and amazing sunsets.
I have an apt. in San Francisco, the entire place is white-- everything. The stools are completely white including the legs, white Eames Aluminum Group. I designed the shelving, table, etc., all are formed and then coated white. I am afraid to touch anything. But it keeps me in line.
OD: What’s your favorite piece of furniture at home?
Hummingbird's nest
an intuitive design
JC: It’s not furniture. It’s a hummingbird’s nest that my father gave me years ago. It’s the most amazing intuitive design I have ever seen.
OD: How do you design, model first – or are you a paper and pencil creator? Speaking of which, are you working on something(s) we could hear a bit about?
JC: The stool started from one simple drawing in my book, then it was trial and error in the shop.
Some people feel the need to keep designing. I have not been compelled to do so.
OD: What classic furniture design do you admire most and why?
JC: Difficult question. But the work of usual masters, Eames, Colombo, etc. They where designing at the peak of the industrial revolution: playing with materials and manufacturing; they pushed every fabrication procedure. It was an obvious love affair. They did fabulous work.
Contemporary designers have been playing “catch up” ever since.
Maple seat Spun-Aluminum seat
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