The Poise chair by Patryk Koca - from conception to completion
In 2019, we approached Patryk Koca, a designer based in Sydney, who we sensed shared our values towards product design and an aesthetic sense that aligned well with our vision for the evolution of our brand. Our own style naturally inclines toward the space where Scandinavian design principles coincide with the Australian modern aesthetic, and we felt that Patryk embodied this harmonic blend, himself a fusion of northern European and Australian experiences. The Poise Chair:
Form, function, and the unexpected
The Poise Chair began as a quiet exploration - a response to a moment in time when the world hit pause in 2020. The intent emerged from that space: a need for calm, for restraint, for design that felt grounded and enduring. I envisioned a piece with classical proportions, one that could slip seamlessly into homes or commercial spaces alike. It had to be comfortable, functional, and built to last.
Form, function, and the unexpected
The Poise Chair began as a quiet exploration - a response to a moment in time when the world hit pause in 2020. The intent emerged from that space: a need for calm, for restraint, for design that felt grounded and enduring. I envisioned a piece with classical proportions, one that could slip seamlessly into homes or commercial spaces alike. It had to be comfortable, functional, and built to last.
The initial ideation was fast and instinctive - sketch after sketch, sometimes just rough outlines, other times detailed studies of a leg joint or a particular transition in the frame. However, translating vision into reality often brings its own challenges: the realities of materials, ergonomics, and manufacturing often redefine the end result.
Yet with the Poise Chair, everything aligned. The prototype had a presence. It revealed subtle details - the floating seat, the softly tapered legs, the seamless frame transitions - that only became richer in person.
The Poise Chair marked the beginning of a dynamic collaboration with Tolv.
One of the earliest lessons we learnt together was the importance of honesty - in feedback, in process, in compromise. There were long conversations about comfort, back angles, joint tolerances. The cross dowels in the back legs, originally a production necessity, evolved into a cohesive signature that also features in the Cove Table.
From the outset, I approached the chair not as a one-off, but as a foundation. My design philosophy is about creating a visual language - a set of design rules that can be translated across typologies. So the chair quickly gave rise to a counter stool, a low chair, and eventually a version with a fully upholstered seat and back.
But perhaps the most valuable feedback came not from the factory, but from the showroom floor. The diverse dealer network became an unexpected voice in the process. Their insights highlighted gaps we hadn’t initially considered - armrests.
The original design hadn’t accounted for them, and retrofitting that detail wasn’t simple.
The original design hadn’t accounted for them, and retrofitting that detail wasn’t simple.
We went through several failed attempts before settling on a refined solution: a modified front leg that allowed the armrest to open up the seat, making it feel both more welcoming and sturdy. That learning -to anticipate every possible use case from the beginning - has stayed with me ever since
In 2022, we were deep in the development of a new product category: beds. The CEO of Tolv sent me a photo of the Poise chair’s backrest. "A Poise bed would be nice," he said. A few days later after experimenting with the Poise formula a third design joined the range.;
the Poise Bed. It was one of those moments where you realise design never happens in a vacuum - it’s always part of an ongoing conversation.
Today, five years on, the Poise Chair has found a home in cafes in Dubai, private residences across Southeast Asia, a university in Perth, and even a local architecture studio I walk past in Sydney. The offering of new and exciting wood finishes driven by architectural trends changes the character of the collection over time. That’s the real reward — not the press photos or showroom displays, but the moment someone chooses to bring your design into their life, their home, their everyday. Today several of my close friends also have Poise Chairs in their forever homes. That level of trust is humbling.
The latest evolution of the range is the Poise Soft Lounge Chair - a gentler, more voluptuous and comfort driven response to the market’s call for softness. This new iteration balances the familiar timber detailing with bolder cushions and a cocooning frame. It’s a reminder that good design doesn’t just end. It adapts, it listens, it grows, and I’m sure the Poise story is not over yet.. and that, for me, is the beauty of timeless design.