ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

India Mahdavi's Oliver Armchair Gets a Smiley Makeover with Yellow Outlets

architecture-design · 2026-06-22

Franco-Iranian designer India Mahdavi has unveiled a special edition of her Oliver armchair at Matter and Shape in Paris, featuring ten yellow electrical outlets designed by Omer Arbel, co-founder of Bocci. The outlets, inspired by Harvey Ball's 1963 smiley face, are customized in a unique yellow shade to enhance the piece's energy. The compact, geometric Oliver armchair was originally created for a residential project in London. Mahdavi describes the piece as a tribute to small details that bring joy, subverting the ordinary by transforming a functional element into an aesthetic detail.

Key facts

  • India Mahdavi is a Franco-Iranian designer.
  • Omer Arbel is co-founder of Bocci.
  • The special edition Oliver armchair was unveiled at Matter and Shape in Paris.
  • The armchair features ten yellow electrical outlets.
  • The outlets are inspired by Harvey Ball's smiley face from 1963.
  • The outlets are customized in a specific yellow shade.
  • The Oliver armchair is compact and geometric.
  • The original Oliver armchair was designed for a London residential project.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Matter and Shape
  • Bocci

Locations

  • Paris
  • France
  • London
  • United Kingdom

Sources