What it does
The Prestige Suite reimagines Business Class for the Airbus A350, addressing the need for greater privacy, comfort, and personalization in flight. It blends sculptural design, technology and sustainable materials to create a premium travel experience.
Your inspiration
The idea for the Sierra Airlines Prestige Suite emerged from observing a gap in the current Business Class experience, where luxury often feels impersonal and outdated. Through user research and cultural probes, I found a growing demand for more emotionally engaging, wellness-focused environments, especially among younger premium travelers. I wanted to design a space that feels both sculptural and human, offering privacy without isolation, comfort without excess, and innovation without complexity. This project bridges aesthetics, functionality, and manufacturability in a truly passenger-centered solution.
How it works
The Sierra Airlines Prestige Suite is a Business Class seat concept designed for the Airbus A350. It combines comfort, privacy, and smart technology in a sculptural and space-efficient layout. The seat shell is built from FAA-compliant, rotationally molded flame-retardant polyethylene (FR-PE), which allows for lightweight, durable, and cost-effective production. Inside the suite, passengers have full control over their environment. Adjustable ambient lighting, personalized climate controls, and integrated wireless charging are all managed through a simple touchscreen interface. The seat reclines into a full lie-flat bed with smooth transitions, supported by an ergonomic structure that evenly distributes body pressure. Storage areas are placed strategically within arm’s reach, and a height-adjustable table slides easily from a recessed track.
Design process
The design process for the Sierra Airlines Prestige Suite began with extensive research into current Business Class offerings and emerging passenger expectations. I conducted cultural probes, competitive analysis, and user interviews to uncover unmet needs—particularly around privacy, wellness, and personalization. Early concept sketches focused on fluid, sculptural forms inspired by aerodynamics and architecture. These evolved into digital CAD models, emphasizing tapered transitions, layered surfaces, and ergonomic structure. A full-scale mockup was then built using pink foam to test proportions, circulation, and usability in real space. User testing with the prototype revealed key insights: the suite felt spacious and private, but the table height and TV placement needed refinement. I incorporated this feedback into a second iteration, improving the tray mechanism, adjusting storage locations, and optimizing sightlines for comfort and accessibility. Parallel to form development, I explored material choices and manufacturing methods—settling on FAA-compliant rotational molding for its durability and efficiency. The result is a fully realized concept that balances emotional design with technical viability, positioning Sierra as a premium yet future-forward airline brand.
How it is different
The Sierra Airlines Prestige Suite stands out by combining sculptural aesthetics with emotional functionality, something rarely seen in Business Class seating. While many competitors focus on maximizing density or adding luxury features, this design redefines the passenger experience through fluid forms, wellness-driven personalization, and seamless technology integration. Unlike rigid, boxy cabins, the suite uses flowing, aerodynamic shapes to create a sense of openness and calm without sacrificing privacy. Its layout is tailored for both aesthetic impact and ergonomic performance, informed by full-scale prototyping and user testing. Sustainability is built into the concept offering lightweight efficiency and scalable production. Smart features like adjustable lighting, personalized climate control, and integrated charging are intuitively controlled, creating a refined, future-ready environment. It’s not just a seat—it’s a sculptural retreat at 35,000 feet.
Future plans
The next steps for the Sierra Airlines Prestige Suite include refining the design for manufacturability and preparing a functional prototype using lightweight, aviation-grade materials. I will be pitching the concept to airline partners and design consultancies, with the goal of bringing it into production. Long-term, I hope to expand the Sierra brand into a full cabin experience, integrating cohesive visual identity, service design, and next-gen passenger tech to redefine luxury air travel with a focus on wellness, sustainability, and sculptural elegance.
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