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Evolution of Design: Solving the Gate Seating Challenge

By Agati Furniture

Airport Furniture, Product Features

Rethinking rigid rows of gate seating. Introducing Departures Airport Seating.

At AGATI, we are always inventing new solutions to upend status quo public-space furniture. We approached airport gate seating with a bold design challenge: How do we transform impersonal, rigid rows of seating into something that feels welcoming, comfortable and personal? We wanted to design an alternative layout and bring an entirely new experience to gate seating!

From experience:

Both in aviation and beyond, we’ve had success developing unique seating arrangements that help eliminate lost seats in tight footprints—like the Gee Pinwheel with panel, the Gee Pinwheel without panels, and now, the Orb cluster.

With a no-lost-seat approach in mind, we set out to design airport seating that fits efficiently into compact spaces. The result is Departures—a seating system that gives every passenger a private, club-like experience. Departures Airport Seating is a true departure from traditional beam seating, purposefully designed around real human behavior.

We asked ourselves:

How do we create comfort and separation between travelers, while maintaining the efficiency of the space in a linear format?

The answer is a reimagined solution that transforms gate areas by:

Offsetting each seat at an angle reduces eye contact and promotes a more relaxed atmosphere for all travelers
Giving each user a table further enhances personal space
Curving each seatback provides a more hospitality-driven comfort level of seating

The resulting layout is a dynamic solution that livens up the architecture and passenger experience!

Read on for the stages of how we got there…

Discovery Stage 1: Exploring the Zig Zag

Our Product Designers first explored a zig-zag configuration aimed at helping travelers feel less like they’re sitting right next to someone, even when they are.
Zig-zag seating formation introduces a dynamic architectural element and gives designers a tool to break up the monotonous straight lines typical of airport beam seating.
In a crowded hold room, zig-zag layouts can increase seating efficiency by eliminating the “lost-seat” factor that often occurs with solo travelers. In traditional double-face beam seating, strangers can end up seating uncomfortably close. By staggering the seats at an angle, the design creates a more generous personal bubble and avoids face-to-face positioning.
The result: improved comfort and ease for public space patrons, contributing to a more successful environment overall.

Defining Personal Space & Needs

The product designers tackled a key question: What amenities does the traveler need? From there, they began high-level engineering to block out space for these essentials—starting with personal space, power access, and a table.
With more personal space, people feel more relaxed and less tense in public environments.
High-density seating typically features flat backs. During this phase, we introduced a curved back with lumbar support—designed to “hug” the user and give the seat more of a first-class feel. We also added softer foam to enhance the seat pan for greater comfort.
Beyond amenities, the curved back played an integral role in boosting comfort and making it easier for travelers to sit next to strangers without discomfort.

Bringing it all together

Deepening our understanding of travelers’ personal space—and collaborating closely with designers and airport leaders—helped us refine the seating design to meet the demands of both high-traffic environments and passenger comfort.
We found that adding a leg under each seat not only improved the visual profile but also created a clear physical divide, helping to define each user’s personal space.
We also learned that the staggered seat layout opened up more room for passengers’ luggage, while an angled table design not only looked great but made power access more intuitive and user-friendly.

High-Level Engineering

During this last phase we determined how does everything fit together. We designed the seat and back as separate, replaceable components to simplify long-term upkeep. We also created space around each seat to prevent debris buildup—no crumb collection here.
The decided that the final design includes a durable metal leg, a laminate table with a stone top, and integrated power.
And developed the collection with flexibility in mind: a starter/adder/end configuration, available in both straight and angled versions, so designers can specify what works best for their space.

When we design for human behavior and prioritize each passenger’s comfort in an active public space, their entire experience is transformed. Departures Airport Seating gives every passenger a first class experience and is a true departure from typical ineffective beam seating. The haptic embrace from it’s curved back, the angled position giving users ample private-feeling space, paired with amenities like access to power, a tabletop, and individual luggage room — all create a highly sought-out destination while waiting for boarding.

Departures is designed for gate hold rooms and throughout the terminal.

Learn more about Departures design features, access it’s tear sheet and Revit file on the product page.

If you’d like to speak with a furniture expert about using Cubit in your space, request a free consultation here.