February 2017
In this exclusive live interview with the BBC, Ian Dryburgh, CEO and Founder of Acumen Design Associates lifts the lid on the innovations that have come from the Acumen studio studio, from premium aircraft interiors, to lifesciences and even round paper towels!
The upgrades to United’s international business class mean more comfort on long-haul flights. Polaris, United Airlines’ new take on international business class, is meant to evoke the North Star—a shining beacon (get it?) in the industry. What we have is a little more straightforward: new seats, new lounges—all very welcome (if not quite revolutionary) upgrades to United’s long-haul flights.
United Airlines today revealed its new business class cabin experience on-board their B787’s, A350’s and B777’s.
United will be the first airline in the world to fly this unique seat design invented and patented by Acumen. This highly original cabin configuration combines in-line seats with angled seats to create the industry’s most space efficient super business class layout. United are so impressed with the design that they are installing it across their entire fleet. This completely new ‘herring-line’ configuration will create a major disruption in the lay-flat seating market.
Beating off stiff competition, Acumen and Etihad once again took home the much coveted Crystal Cabin Award – Otherwise known as The Oscars of the aircraft interiors industry- for their revolutionary ‘First Suites’ patented cabin layout.
Now flying on Etihad’s B787s, this new-to-market product is the world’s first custom first class seat ever to fly on this catalogue aircraft. This is made possible by a highly innovative fore and aft layout which ‘curves’ the aisles toward the galley complex.
While private and commercial aircraft interiors have historically been very different in their approach to service, layout and design, the divide is blurring. Acumen Design Associates discuss why commercial industrial design skills have never been more relevant to the private charter industry, and how forward-thinking private jet companies can utilise these to create differentiation through their interior definition and seating design.
Acumen Design Associates discuss how they might re-imagine supersonic aircraft interiors by harnessing the supersonic flight itself as the passenger experience. Anthony discusses reconfiguration of the fundamental layout of the ‘tube,’ the service style, and how the passengers might interact with their environment by integrating emerging technologies.
Colour, material and finish play a crucial role in making an aircraft cabin attractive, sophisticated and comfortable. Ian Harbison, Editor of Aircraft Cabin Management, speaks to Acumen about industry trends, the luxury materials used in Etihad Airways’ ground-breaking A380 upper-deck, and how materials can be used to enhance the passenger experience.
November 2015
Mark Jordan interviews Acumen CEO Ian Dryburgh and Associate Anthony Harcup about why London is the centre of excellence for aircraft interior design. From creating the world’s first Bed In The Sky for British Airways, to the World’s first commercial VIP suite for Etihad Airways, this insightful documentary showcases Acumen’s influence in shaping the aircraft interiors industry as it stands today.
November 2015
Catherine Barber of Acumen Design Associates discusses the overlap between VIP and commercial aircraft design, and reveals what’s caught her eye recently – from 3D printing to conductive textiles and astronomy motifs.
October 2015
John McKeever discusses the increased demand for Business Class seating and how airlines can differentiate in a crowded marketplace.
On a mission to satisfy customers’ desires, commercial airlines are adopting the idiom “the sky’s the limit.” Ian Dryburgh, CEO of Acumen Design Associates, a London-based transport design firm that invented The Residence by Etihad and the first Bed in the Sky for British Airways says, “The airline industry is trying to rediscover the romance of travel—that moment in history when transatlantic travel was in its infancy and was really exclusive.”
Luxury Magazine caught up with Ian Druburgh to find out more about Acumen Design Associates. Ian founded Acumen Design Associates in 1981 as a multidisciplinary design consultancy. A named inventor on patents spanning many industry sectors, his commitment to innovation is the bedrock of the brand.
In a career spanning more than 30 years, he has enjoyed award winning success in a wide range of industry sectors from the Marine to Aerospace, FMCG, Life Science, architecture and high performance products. With a broad market knowledge and strong brand awareness, Ian brings a unique perspective and insight to any new product development program aiming to achieve market leadership.
What will the private jet of the future be like? Ian Dryburgh, CEO of Acumen Design Associates, a leading aviation and transport design company, that created ‘The Residence’ for Etihad and the first flat-bed in the sky for British Airways, believes that the potential for customizing the luxury travel experience is more needed than ever.
It is no surprise that Etihad, of the United Arab Emirates, has taken our top spot again this year, reinforcing its position as carrier ‘Number One’. The latest Business Class cabin found on the 787 and A380 exceeds the already faultless Business Class on the rest of its long haul fleet, with each glorious seat (designed by the gurus at Acumen DA, as part of the EDC) offering aisle access, fully-flat beds and dine-when-you-want menus.
TheDesignAir’s Jonny Clark gives a comprehensive review of the Etihad A380 First Class passenger experience. Alongside an in-depth critique of the ‘First Apartments’ Jonny covers the check-in at Abu Dhabi’s terminal 3, and goes on to reveal a trip which captures the essence of an exceptional guest experience – recapturing the golden age of travel with un-paralleled service, food and seating product.
February 2015
TheDesignAir’s Jonny Clark gives a comprehensive review of the Etihad A380 Business Class passenger experience. Alongside an in-depth critique of the ‘Business Studio’ seat Jonny covers the check-in in London’s Heathrow terminal 4, the boarding and the pre-flight drinks – right through to the on-board meal, the in-flight entertainment and even the passenger amenity kit.
This month Business Jet Interiors International interviewed Acumen Design Associates to understand more more about The Residence by Etihad, the new VIP aircraft interior onboard their flagship A380’s.
February 2015
Acumen have re-designed the highly successful ‘Venus’ platform for China Eastern’s New B777 fleet. The fully enclosed First Class suites, incorporate a new contemporary colour pallet, and custom designed features, including new styling, sliding privacy doors, full length closet and a double bed for the center suite.
Acumen Design Associates latest design work on Etihad Airways’ ‘First Apartments’ First Class suites has been recognised by TheDesignAir after the airline was awarded first place in the Top 10 International First Class cabins 2015.
Following the Launch of Etihad’s groundbreaking A380 premium seating products, Acumen’s Anthony Harcup lifts the lid on the design thinking behind this revolutionary cabin. and discusses the role of disruptive products in the aviation sector.
Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad’s new interiors have pushed Airbus, Boeing and it’s cabin supplier list to new limits – and they may push the whole industry too. Acumen Design Associate’s Ian Dryburgh, Nigel Lawson and Ant Harcup are featured in this in-depth article behind Etihad’s recently launched A380 interiors project in this months Aircraft Interiors Magazine:
Recaro have publicly launched their brand-new entry into the Business Class market, the CL6710, in this month’s Aircraft Interiors International magazine.
Jonny Clark from The Design Air stops by the Acumen studio to get the inside story of the seat design from Acumen’s Nigel Lawson and Anthony Harcup. This, the second of four in-depth articles, focuses in on the seat design process for The Residence and the First Apartments, from the first blue sky sketches through to the finished articles.
It has been 5 years in the making, and now finally Etihad Airways have revealed to the world a ground-breaking suite of products which redefine all classes of flight for their flagship A380 and B787 Dreamliner fleets. Both aircraft design programmes represent the single-biggest commitment to cabin interior product design made by any airline in the world.
The new interiors have been designed by a British consortium of Acumen Design Associates, Honour branding and Factory Design, of which Acumen were selected to design all on-board seating products:
April 2014
A leading global supplier of cabin attendant seating are changing the face of the industry with a range of new upgrades for their aviation clients. Following the success of the 2013 Hamburg Show-Seat (designed by Acumen Design Associates), Acumen have worked closely with the company to develop customisable on-wing seat refurbishment packages that deliver a class-leading level of fit, finish and finesse to an otherwise utilitarian cabin element.
Saudi Arabian Airlines have teamed up with Acumen and Honour Branding to modernise the interiors of 22 of the airline’s 23 Boeing 777-200ERs. Based on one of B/E Aersopace’s popular suites, Acumen was tasked with re-styling the product to meet Saudia’s specific requirements while working closely with Honour Branding to incorporate a new colour pallet befitting a modern Arabian airline.
This redesign of Zodiac UK’s ‘Vantage’ seat was focused on re-proportioning the seat to give an equal offer to the passenger while improving stowage. It was also to come up with a new table design to simplify and enhance its use and production.
December 2011
Ian Dryburgh of Acumen Design Associates asks if there is a more sophisticated, weight-efficient and attractive approach to providing on-board personal privacy.
November 2011
This Acumen-designed first class suite features in a review by Design Air, and November 2011’s Aircraft interiors article.
September 2011
Air China select ‘Venus’ seat platform (originally designed by Acumen) to furnish their new 777-300ER’s. Acumen were also responsible for refreshing the product to create a customised look and feel.
Delta Airlines unveiled plans for the complete revitalisation of its fleet of Boeing 747-400 aircraft using the Acumen-styled ‘Cirrus’ seat. This poduct will be flying primarily from the Tokyo-Narita hub.
Korean Air has embarked on a major fleet overhaul, featuring new Kosmo suites designed by Acumen that spearhead a broad package of seating and IFE improvements.
Contour’s Bob Lovel discusses the innovations which have driven the aircraft seating industry forward.
“Contour has taken the lead in developing next-generation products together with long-standing design partner Acumen. Creators of the original ‘Bed In The Sky’ for British Airways, the AA Flagship Suite and many other benchmark products, this latest collaboration has delivered Venus, the super-first-class standard-bearer. Growth, innovation, design – the decade ahead promises to be even more exciting than the previous one…”
September 2008
Following the 2007 launch of their first class product, Cathay Pacific won the prestigious Skytrax ‘Best First Class 2008’ for this luxurious and private cabin, designed in its entirety by Acumen.
The airline’s new Première cabin, on board both its Boeing B777-300ER and Airbus A330-200 aircraft, features 30 seats in a herringbone configuration. The Première seats are based on Contour’s Solar Eclipse model, already in service with Air Canada, and on order with Delta.
‘Freedom’ is a ground-breaking new economy seat design that positions passengers in opposing directions to increase personal space. This is achieved by reversing the centre seat and overlapping adjoining armrests.
Stephen Armstrong gets up-close and personal with the best selling business class seat in the market. Read the full Wallpaper Magazine article here.
Acumen’s Fred Brown shares a detailed case study of the seat design with Aircraft Interiors. Read the article here.
March 2004
Following the 2002 Launch of AirFrance’s L’espace Premiere, Acumen’s Simon Lunn discusses the design philosophy behind Air Frances flagship furniture inspired FC suite in this product design case study.
Following the 2000 Launch of American Airline’s Flagship FC suite, Acumen CEO Ian Dryburgh discusses the design philosophy behind the world-first ‘swivel-seat’ in this product design case study. Read the Aircraft Interior article here.