Coach for The Voice UK, will.i.am recently complained about the design of their version of the chairs saying they are much less comfortable than those used on the Australian version. And, as the creative realisers behind The Voice Australia chairs, we’ll take that compliment!
will.i.am told The Sun that the the roundness of the swivel chairs leaves him with a hunched back and went on to say, “I don’t know why they have them like this. They’re not like that [on The Voice Australia].
“I sat in Seal’s chair. Their chairs are different, they’re straight. Ours are curved in so they make you [hunch your shoulders] all the time.”
Fellow UK coach, Jessie J also criticised the chairs in an interview with Radio Times recently.
She said: “Honestly, as a girl, it’s not the most comfortable chair.
“While all the guys can sit back and look relaxed, I have to sit really upright and forward or lean to the side.
“I feel so little in that chair – but at least my feet touch the ground. Will’s don’t!”
Accommodating the varying heights of the coaches for The Voice Australia was one of the challenges Big Kahuna Imagineering faced (and overcame) when designing the Aussie versions. The ergonomics that The Voice UK chairs lack was another aspect we spent considerable time on as well as a number of subtle and yet not unimportant design features included by Big Kahuna that were extra to the generic chairs including “V-shaped” seat back support risers, custom-rolled aluminum “bum-view shields” (to avoid any celebrity cracks making an appearance) and composite brushed aluminum box plates around the button which have proved to save the day in terms of wear and tear with those enthusiastic coaches hitting the top of the box with every part of their being (including height-promoting cowboy boots, big chunky jewellery and even foreheads.)
Unfortunately, the UK coaches may not be able to look forward to more comfortable chairs next season as a BBC source stated: “Plans for series three aren’t under way until this one finishes. But I would imagine the same chairs will be back again next year.”
However, with will.i.am’s vote, BKI would be happy to oblige so they can coach in comfort!