This month's Interior Lifestyle China brought nearly 17,000 visitors from almost 50 different companies to Shanghai's historic Exhibition Centre for a four-day show featuring more than 260 product exhibitors. Hosted by German tradeshow organizer Messe Frankfurt, the show was also an opportunity for international designers to take part in a forum entitled On Design, in which they presented ideas on product design and merchandizing to attendees. Sebastian Herkner, previous recipient of Interior Lifestyle's prestigious "Talents" title for young designers, spoke on the "appeal of product design," focusing on the interplay between inspiration and realization of recent work that includes his new Coat chair for Moroso.

The chair and complementary Bask basket series launched earlier this year at Salone del Mobile in Milan

Herkner told the audience about his inspiration for the chair-the non-slip patterns printed on the soles of children’s socks. The idea translates to the chair in a functional yet decorative pattern of transparent silicon that forms a gradient dot pattern. The treatment gives the fabric an ombre effect, washing out the color of the upholstery and adding movement to the design. The chair is topped with a soft removable cover, or coat, which makes it seem an easy addition a range of settings.

Herkner’s Bask series has a similarly whimsical inspiration: inexpensive woven paper-yarn bags that he originally came across on a visit to Spain. Like the chair, the baskets are functional and decorative and can be flipped and used as coffee tables as well.

About the Manufacturer: Moroso, founded 60 years ago in Udine, Italy, continues to be a major player on the Italian and international design scene. Today, under the creative direction of Patrizia Moroso, the company maintains an investigative approach to design, collaborating with designers and artists from around the world. Moroso products celebrate the balance between technological innovation and old world craftsmanship. Moroso USA is headquartered at 146 Greene Street in New York City.

About the Designer: Sebastian Herkner is an Offenbach College of Arts and Design graduate and is skilled at integrating different cultures and combining new technologies with traditional handicrafts. He has won many awards such as the "2010 Red Dot Award" and the "2011 German Rookie Design."

About the Show: Established in 2007, Interior Lifestyle China is an extension of Ambiente, the world's largest annual consumer goods fair held in Germany and a sister show to Interior Lifestyle Tokyo, a leading interior lifestyle fair in Japan. Interior Lifestyle China is the only trade fair that presents domestic and international brands to China's high-end interior market. Since the show’s inception, almost all the well-known interior brands have exhibited their products at the Shanghai fair.