This Furniture design project was focused on each
student creating their own "perfect" stool for the classroom.
The Process
I was tasked with creating a high-fidelity prototype that is designed with my preferences and the measurements of the studio classroom in mind. Personally, I like to move around a lot when working, therefore, I knew that I wanted my chair to have some sort of function that allowed for that, i.e. the rocking function. Furthermore, the size and build of the seat cushion allow for the user to sit in several different comfortable positions while working.
I began my design process by researching. I first began looking for some sort of inspiration. As I was looking for inspiration and thinking about what I might design I began to come up with personal parameters. The parameters included my feet comfortably reaching the ground, different sitting positions available, a rocking function, and lastly storage.
After Finalizing my design I created an orthographic drawing to better help me visualize my design. I then created a full-size pattern of all of my stool pieces on paper. I transferred my pattern to plywood and cut out my pieces. Each piece was sanded smooth and a bevel was added to each edge. The pieces were then attached using screws. The seat was created by recycling an old mattress topper and upholstered with cotton fabric. The final materials for this chair wood include White ash wood, thick canvas material, and small buttons for the upholstery. White ash is a hardwood that is great for building and the lightness of the wood will allow it to be stained in any preferred color. The thick canvas for the cushion will allow for the upholstery to last.
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