Coming back with loads of inspiration from his field trip concerning crafts in India Joost got intrigued by the way people there copy. One craftsman said, while standing next to a piggy bank in the shape of a fire extinguisher: “I don’t design, I make.” A good reflection on the Indian mentality. In result Joost started copying classic and modern design pieces himself which led to an interest in material tension as also seen abundantly in India. This led to the creation of a series of models eventually resulting in a desire to make a folding chair that would be completely self supportive without extra’s such as glue or hinges. Making more scale models of the chair Joost worked on the folding system bit by bit, developing a working structure. To keep the relation to India, Joost made the India Chair using tools, materials and technologies available to the local craftsmen. To support Indian craftsmen and counteract their disappearance yet respecting their traditions, he made a system where Indian craftsman could locally produce the India Chair receiving proper payment with the system dealing with sales and shipping.
