The Death of the ‘Instagram Chair’—Why Good Design Isn’t About Viral Moments

the “ring chair” :/

There was a time when furniture was built to last. Now, too often - it’s built to go viral.

We’ve all seen it: chairs designed to look great in a single Instagram frame—outrageous curves, exaggerated silhouettes, materials that scream ‘art installation’ but feel like punishment when you actually sit down. Call it the TikTok effect, the Pinterest problem, or just bad design, but it’s everywhere.

design: @studio1nine1

Here’s the thing: good furniture isn’t about visual shock value. The best pieces don’t beg for attention; they demand presence. They get better over time, forming that patina, that well-worn feel, that ‘I’ll never get rid of this’ energy. That’s what separates design from decoration.

So, let’s retire the Instagram Chair. Design should be more than a quick hit of dopamine—it should be something you live with, sit in, and miss when you’re away.