New Territory has created a new and customizable version of the MiQ, short/mid-haul business class seat for AeroMexico, and more widely for Rockwell Collins. Lighting, a future-proof customizable design and added comfort are key features of the new seat, providing premium at-seat ambience and visual coherency throughout the business class cabin.
The new designs are a continuation of New Territory's previous work for Aeromexico, helping to revamp their long-haul, Boeing 787-9 cabins through the design of seats, lighting on-board product and a new social space. Aeromexico have also purchased 60 of the two-class configuration, narrow body Boeing 737 MAX aircrafts, with an option to buy 30 more. This means that New Territory's seat designs will form the basis of the business class cabin across Mexico's global airline's entire fleet. The current MiQ seats have been in service for the last year and are used across a number of different airline interiors, with the new upgrades owned by Aeromexico and licensed by Rockwell Collins.
"We approached the brief with a more contemporary design language, further highlighting the obvious benefits of the existing MiQ module," commented Luke Miles, Co-Founder & Creative Director at New Territory. "Through working with Rockwell Collins, our aim was to develop and add consistency to the existing mechanical package through a host of subtle but impactful additions and changes."
A notable benefit of the upgraded MiQ seat is the re-balancing of the seat back zones - particularly the monitor bezel, magazine pockets and upper shroud which surrounds the IFE screen - all of which can be customized and replaced when necessary or in one with future cabin refreshes. This means that the overall feeling and experience of the cabin can be altered to align with specific brand positioning requirements.
"Adding value to a short haul experience was a different kind of challenge that we absolutely cherished because it meant we had to take a more pragmatic view of the on-board experience," said Hugo Jamson, Creative Director at New Territory. "The ways in which we installed lighting systems were crucial in adding this value because they provide a much clearer sense of personal space for the passenger. In essence, the lighting makes you feel that the back of the seat in front of you is part of your own seating area, and when added to the widening of the seat and its new features, you're left with a more comfortable experience and an increase in perceived value. We're delighted with the results and truly feel that our work with Rockwell Collins has created an ownable piece of design for Aeromexico."
