Product: Chair Design
You are to explore possible chair designs through research, data collection and experimentation of design ideas. You will write a design brief based on the requirements and then develop a folio to show your design process. Focus for this task is on form vs function and ergonomics.
Purpose (What is being assessed)
- Conceptualisation and development of imaginative or personally relevant visual ideas. (Evidenced through brainstorming, design roughs and annotations) PA1
- Exploration to acquire technical skills and use media, materials, and technologies. (Evidenced through brainstorming, design roughs and final drawings and model) PA2
- Understanding of aesthetic or functional qualities in works of art or design. (Evidenced through evaluation and testing) KU3
- Research and acknowledge sources to explore and develop insights into aspects of the visual arts. KU4
- Evaluation of own practical work. AR3
Project name: Re-design the classroom sitting experience
Design Brief:
Taking the need of the body in mind and Peter Opsvik’s view of creating movement and fluctuation in a chairs design and the increase of obesity (insert source here) create a chair design for the contemporary classroom user. Design a chair that prompts movement for better back posture and movement to stimulate the muscles.
“We constantly receive signals from the body, most of which signal the desire for change. If we listened to more of these signals and acted on them to a greater extent, we would move more freely and use postures that are more natural to us, not least while sitting. ”
Peter Opsvik
Taking the need of the body in mind and Peter Opsvik’s view of creating movement and fluctuation in a chairs design and the increase of obesity (insert source here) create a chair design for the contemporary classroom user. Design a chair that prompts movement for better back posture and movement to stimulate the muscles.
“We constantly receive signals from the body, most of which signal the desire for change. If we listened to more of these signals and acted on them to a greater extent, we would move more freely and use postures that are more natural to us, not least while sitting. ”
Peter Opsvik
Gravity Balance Recliner
Designed to make the most perfect and rejuvenating naps we’ve ever taken come true, the Gravity Balance offers a sufficient back and neck support – which is adjustable – relieving the spine while head and feet are placed higher than the heart, allowing for deep relaxation. Additionally it yields to the rhythm of our breathing.
The Gravity balance recliner though is not only designed to contribute to our power naps, but also to active sitting since it can be adjusted in 4 positions altogether, allowing for such occasions as tea drinking and conversation with friends or watching a film all curled up.
Designed to make the most perfect and rejuvenating naps we’ve ever taken come true, the Gravity Balance offers a sufficient back and neck support – which is adjustable – relieving the spine while head and feet are placed higher than the heart, allowing for deep relaxation. Additionally it yields to the rhythm of our breathing.
The Gravity balance recliner though is not only designed to contribute to our power naps, but also to active sitting since it can be adjusted in 4 positions altogether, allowing for such occasions as tea drinking and conversation with friends or watching a film all curled up.
Norwegian designer Peter Opsvik developed the ‘Globe Concept‘ with the aim of making sitting active in both offices and public spaces.
“Our ancestors lived in the trees! When I designed 'Garden' in 1985 I wanted to show how the norms of ‘sitting nicely’ and ‘sitting correctly’ can be broken.” Today the Garden is manufactured by Swedish company Moment AB
“Our ancestors lived in the trees! When I designed 'Garden' in 1985 I wanted to show how the norms of ‘sitting nicely’ and ‘sitting correctly’ can be broken.” Today the Garden is manufactured by Swedish company Moment AB
Process:
- Evaluation and research of existing chairs.
- Idea generation. Group Brainstorming with design roughs and notes to identify a broad range of ideas.
- Idea refinement. Refining and evaluating the ideas. From the brainstorm, sort through the ideas to find the strongest ones. Consider the following headings:
- Realistic
- Function
- Just an interesting idea - Annotate in order to evaluate your initial designs. Which designs will you work further on and why?
- Create further design roughs to illustrate refinements and problem solve solutions for your designs.
- Evaluate your design; does it still meet the original intentions of the brief?
- Draw final (orthographic and isometric) illustrations of your design that is neatly presented and shows craftsmanship.
- If there is time create a model of your chair thinking about appropriate materials to best display your design.
- Present your work in the order listed here and label each page.
- Research
- Evaluation
- Idea Generation
- Idea Refinement
- Evaluation
- Final Design
- Bibliography
Step 1:
Part 1: Research of existing and innovative chairs.
As a class there should be a pool of knowledge gained from creating a historical timeline for chair design. This information can assist you with the creation of a new design. How can one know what is new if they don't know what is old?
There are a lot of ideas that can come from understanding where a product or idea has come from, you may find that some solutions to problems that may arise in your own designs can be answered by designs and ideas that other people have had before. Make sure to share and communicate this knowledge as we go through the design process.
Think creatively how you will present your research. How can you have this information in front of you in an easy and quick way to understand in order to help you generate ideas later? Think about using sticky notes, cue cards, poster, images, mind maps. What ever is easy for you to understand.
Research traditional and innovative classroom chairs.
There are a lot of ideas that can come from understanding where a product or idea has come from, you may find that some solutions to problems that may arise in your own designs can be answered by designs and ideas that other people have had before. Make sure to share and communicate this knowledge as we go through the design process.
Think creatively how you will present your research. How can you have this information in front of you in an easy and quick way to understand in order to help you generate ideas later? Think about using sticky notes, cue cards, poster, images, mind maps. What ever is easy for you to understand.
Research traditional and innovative classroom chairs.
- What is already being done in classrooms across the world?
Create 2 headings, TRADITIONAL and INNOVATIVE
Collect images and note take under these headings
(Answer this in regards to chair design, other forms of sitting and the environment the people sit within.) - Understanding the human body. What does the research say is good for humans?
- How do other cultures sit? Do all cultures use chairs?
- Use the prompts given in class to consider the needs of different people.
- Back to Bare Basics: What is needed to sit?
Resources to help with Research
Part 2: Evaluation of existing chairs
Evaluate and observe existing chairs at the school using the questions in the product analysis below. What are the positive and negatives about these designs?
Look at:
Look at:
- Science and Art rooms
- 'Usual' classroom
- Offices or areas with a computer
- Staff room
- Etc.
Ask people questions about chairs to assist your research. You can answer these questions yourself as well. Survey other students, classes and staff to see other opinions on chairs and get feedback. You can use the SurveyMonkey to assist with this.
Questions like:
- What is your favourite chair? Why?
- How do you like to sit when working on school work at home?
- Does this change for different tasks?
- How do you like to sit when working on school work during class time?
- What helps you to think and concentrate while working for individual work?
- What helps you to think and concentrate while working collaboratively as a group?
- Have you ever tried a chair that promotes movement so that you are able to just your position easily?
Create a mind map
Now that you have researched various chairs, collate your data into a mind map to record and show connections with the information.
Ideas for mind map headings:
Ideas for mind map headings:
- Sitting
- Chairs
- Users
- Target Audiences
- Function / Movement
- Ergonomics
- Materials
By the end of these steps you should have a better understanding of:
Innovative
ˈɪnəvətɪv/
adjective
- How humans interact with the product - ergonomics.
- Target groups for different designs.
- The function of chairs as they are now.
- Beginning of ideas for how chairs can be designed in an innovative way.
Innovative
ˈɪnəvətɪv/
adjective
- (of a product, idea, etc.) featuring new methods; advanced and original.
"innovative designs"- (of a person) introducing new ideas; original and creative in thinking.
"writers who are now viewed as innovative"
- (of a person) introducing new ideas; original and creative in thinking.
Step 2:
Group Brainstorm and Idea Generation
Using lateral or divergent thinking skills come up with as many ideas as possible for a new classroom chair design.
(It’s possible that more than chair design will need to change in the classroom with many of your ideas.)
A brainstorming session is supposed to be fast paced with members of the group feeding and bouncing off of each others ideas. You should be asking yourself and saying things like:
(It’s possible that more than chair design will need to change in the classroom with many of your ideas.)
- Sketch ideas (quick thumbnail sketches)
- Write Notes to explain ideas
A brainstorming session is supposed to be fast paced with members of the group feeding and bouncing off of each others ideas. You should be asking yourself and saying things like:
- What if we....?
Example of a quick sketch - your drawing should not show too much detail or refinement at this stage. You want lots of ideas and quickly jot them down.
Why Brainstorm?
Brainstorming is a great way to come up with a lot ideas that you would not be able to generate by just sitting down with a pen and paper. The intention of brainstorming is to leverage the collective thinking of the group, by engaging with each other, listening and building on other ideas. Conducting a brainstorm also create a distinct segment of time when you intentionally turn up the generative part of your brain and turn down the evaluative part.
How to Brainstorm
- Get into brainstorm mode - ie. a time for lots of ideas
- Invest energy
- Get in front of a whiteboard or around a table
- Take an action posture such as standing or sitting up right
- Get close together
- Write clearly what you are brainstorming. Using a How-Might-We (HMW) is a great way to frame a brainstorm, eg. How Might We change the way students sit during class?
You can use one of these ways of brainstorming:
1. Scribe: Have one or a couple people scribing ideas legibly and visually. The scribe/s capture the ideas that team members call out. It is very important to capture every idea, regardless of your own feelings about each idea.
2. All-in: Each person will write down each of his or her ideas as they come, and verbally share it with the group. It is great to do this with post-it-notes, so you can write your idea and then stick it on the board.
Follow and (nicely) enforce the brainstorming rules - they are intended to increase your creative output.
1. Scribe: Have one or a couple people scribing ideas legibly and visually. The scribe/s capture the ideas that team members call out. It is very important to capture every idea, regardless of your own feelings about each idea.
2. All-in: Each person will write down each of his or her ideas as they come, and verbally share it with the group. It is great to do this with post-it-notes, so you can write your idea and then stick it on the board.
Follow and (nicely) enforce the brainstorming rules - they are intended to increase your creative output.
Rules for Brainstorming
Can you come up with ideas wilder than these?
Ideas to help you out!
Keep in the back of your mind the brief asks for a chair that prompts movement for better back posture and movement to stimulate the muscles. Eg.
Keep in the back of your mind the brief asks for a chair that prompts movement for better back posture and movement to stimulate the muscles. Eg.
- multiple chair types in one setting or adjustable chairs
- yoga ball style
- water /bean bag chairs
- chairs designed to ‘stand in’ rather than sit
- floor depressions rather than objects
- swivel / spring
Step 3:
Idea Refinement
Idea refinement is the stage where the ideas are picked apart and the selection is narrowed down to find the best aspects of the ideas. If you find that you don't have many 'good' ideas, go back to the idea generation stage otherwise know as exploration of ideas.
This is a stage where you:
Once you have explored your ideas thoroughly from the brainstorm start to think more about creating a usable and functional design. This is when you use an ergonome, think about materials that would suit and start thinking about the final appearance of your design.
This is a stage where you:
- Keep your mind open at the start and don't discount ideas too quickly.
- Pick out the ideas you think are the best
- Mix and match your ideas to see if aspects of wild ideas can work with functional ideas
- Combine, mash, sort, etc.
Once you have explored your ideas thoroughly from the brainstorm start to think more about creating a usable and functional design. This is when you use an ergonome, think about materials that would suit and start thinking about the final appearance of your design.
It is important to explore a range of options before the refinement stage, often the best solutions are missed with out that step. I don't just want you to re-design a chair. I want you to come up with your own solution.
1. In this step you need to refine and evaluate the ideas. From the brainstorm, sort through the ideas to find the strongest ones. Consider the following headings:
- Realistic
- Functional
- Just an interesting idea
KEEP IDEAS OPEN
2. Keep your mind open at this stage before applying too much judgement. Create design roughs to visually show your ideas based on these thoughts and questions. Annotate in order to evaluate your initial designs.
Ask yourself :
Ask yourself:
NARROW YOUR IDEAS AND APPLY MORE JUDGEMENT
3. Create paper or cardboard models and test your ideas against an ergonome. (See explanation of ergonomics further down.) Make sure your model is in proportion to the ergonome. In other words, make sure the person (ergonome) will be able to sit in your chair in order to test it's design.
4. Create further design roughs to illustrate refinements and problem solve solutions for your designs.
At this stage you can start to think about the aesthetics. In other words start to apply, colour schemes, textures, consideration of form and what materials your idea will be made from?
2. Keep your mind open at this stage before applying too much judgement. Create design roughs to visually show your ideas based on these thoughts and questions. Annotate in order to evaluate your initial designs.
Ask yourself :
- Can I merge design ideas together?
- What will make an innovative design?
- What designs will function best for the user?
Ask yourself:
- Does the design meet the requirements of the design brief?
- Is there a way to make it suit the design brief more?
NARROW YOUR IDEAS AND APPLY MORE JUDGEMENT
3. Create paper or cardboard models and test your ideas against an ergonome. (See explanation of ergonomics further down.) Make sure your model is in proportion to the ergonome. In other words, make sure the person (ergonome) will be able to sit in your chair in order to test it's design.
- What problems arose?
- What modifications need to be made?
4. Create further design roughs to illustrate refinements and problem solve solutions for your designs.
At this stage you can start to think about the aesthetics. In other words start to apply, colour schemes, textures, consideration of form and what materials your idea will be made from?
Keep in mind!
I do not expect you to write essays on these questions. Think about how you present your thoughts in ways that are quick to grasp and visual. Work smart not hard. Sometimes you may need paragraphs to explain complex ideas, but short phrases are your friend!
I do not expect you to write essays on these questions. Think about how you present your thoughts in ways that are quick to grasp and visual. Work smart not hard. Sometimes you may need paragraphs to explain complex ideas, but short phrases are your friend!
Examples of well drawn design roughs. Don't worry if your sketches are not as neat as this! As long as it is possible to get the gist of the design through imagery and notes, the quality of your sketching does not matter at this stage.
Understanding ergonomics
ergonomic
ˌəːɡəˈnɒmɪk/
adjective
When taking ergonomics into consideration when designing, the designer should take proper account of the interaction between the design (products, systems, or processes) and the people who use them.
ˌəːɡəˈnɒmɪk/
adjective
- relating to or designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment.
"ergonomic keyboard design"
When taking ergonomics into consideration when designing, the designer should take proper account of the interaction between the design (products, systems, or processes) and the people who use them.
Using a maquette or an ergonome – a model of the human figure – will help you apply the right proportions to your chair designs. This is the point where you should use an ergonome to suit your chair design to the human body to enable best function and suitable ergonomics.
Use an ergonome to check your chair design:
Use an ergonome to check your chair design:
- Is the seat the correct size and height from the ground?
- Is the back the correct height?
- If you are designing a workstation, are the table and
equipment set at the correct height for the user?
Various forms of people interacting within a space.
Excerpt: In the workplace: According to Safe Work Australia, the total economic cost of work-related injuries and illnesses is estimated to be $60 billion dollars. Recent research has shown that lower back pain (a consideration for research to make a good chair design for the refinement stage) is the world’s most common work-related disability – affecting employees from offices, building sites and in the highest risk category, agriculture. Ergonomics aims to create safe, comfortable and productive workspaces by bringing human abilities and limitations into the design of a workspace, including the individual’s body size, strength, skill, speed, sensory abilities (vision, hearing), and even attitudes. To achieve best practice design, Ergonomists use the data and techniques of several disciplines:
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Example of an ergonome
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Prototyping
The aim of this step is to choose a design and make sure it is a well considered decision before creating a final copy to present to a client. Normally, a prototyping step would be in place before choosing a design to problem solve any issues that can be seen in model form and tested, however we don't have the facilities to undertake this process at school. Note, prototyping is best practice. This type of work would be undertaken in a work space like the Design and Technology centre with various cheap materials like plywood, foam, cardboard, etc.
If you wish to continue Design in Year 12 and create designs around products and environments (like architecture) it would be a good idea to learn Design and Technology as well. This way you learn how to design and make, giving you solid knowledge to enter a design industry.
If you wish to continue Design in Year 12 and create designs around products and environments (like architecture) it would be a good idea to learn Design and Technology as well. This way you learn how to design and make, giving you solid knowledge to enter a design industry.
Examples of inexpensive prototyping
Step 4:
Evaluate
What makes a design successful? How do you judge a design? There are a wide range of methods and strategies for analysing and evaluating designs.
A product's unique characteristics and features are called the product specification. You need to be able to identify these and compare them with the specification of other similar products. This will help you to evaluate how successful a product's design has been.
The two methods that follow are easy-to-remember acronyms:
F.A.C.E. value
Write a formal evaluation to show your thinking during the design process.
Follow this structure:
A product's unique characteristics and features are called the product specification. You need to be able to identify these and compare them with the specification of other similar products. This will help you to evaluate how successful a product's design has been.
The two methods that follow are easy-to-remember acronyms:
F.A.C.E. value
- Function - What does it do and how does it work?
- Aesthetics - Is it attractive, why and what makes it so?
- Construction - What is it made from, how and why?
- Economics - How much does it cost and is this good value for money?
- Cost - How much does it cost and is it good value for money?
- Aesthetics - Is it attractive, why and what makes it so?
- Function - What does it do and how does it work?
- Ergonomics - How easy or comfortable is it to use?
- Quality - How well is it built, what materials are used?
- User - Who is it for and is it appropriate?
- Environment - What effect do the product's manufacture, use and disposal have?
Write a formal evaluation to show your thinking during the design process.
Follow this structure:
Step 5:
Draw the Final Design
Draw orthographic and isometric illustrations of your design that is neatly presented and shows craftsmanship.
Both of these forms of drawing are often used in Design and Technology when planning objects, like furniture. It provides a 'blue print' that contains the necessary dimensions.
At this stage you want to pay attention to detail with your drawing and make it aesthetically appealing, but still useful. You want to be able to 'win' a client or commission through these concept drawings.
For the best result, draw a few variations and don't worry about getting it perfect first go.
DON"T
DO
Your chair or seating device may look very different from these examples if you have been innovative in your design thinking.
Both of these forms of drawing are often used in Design and Technology when planning objects, like furniture. It provides a 'blue print' that contains the necessary dimensions.
At this stage you want to pay attention to detail with your drawing and make it aesthetically appealing, but still useful. You want to be able to 'win' a client or commission through these concept drawings.
For the best result, draw a few variations and don't worry about getting it perfect first go.
- Then cut out your drawings and arrange them together to fit on an A3 page in an interesting composition.
- Trace these drawings as well as you can, neatening as you go.
- Use pens and textas to outline and create shadows, highlights and mid tones to give life and form to your chair.
DON"T
- Add unnecessary or decorative details
DO
- Keep the page simple and clean
- Include measurements and labels
Your chair or seating device may look very different from these examples if you have been innovative in your design thinking.
Orthographic
You orthographic versions need to include:
Label your drawings with these titles.
If the bottom is interesting provide this as well.
These view points need to show the measurements of the chair in the proportions of a chair for people to sit on.
Make your drawing is to scale. An easier way that measuring everything constantly is to use graph paper. Then create a scale reference such as two squares = 10cm . This will depend on the size of the squares on your paper.
Use drawing tools to assist you such as a ruler, protractor, compass, set square and /or flexible curves.
- Side view
- Front view
- Back view
- Top view
Label your drawings with these titles.
If the bottom is interesting provide this as well.
These view points need to show the measurements of the chair in the proportions of a chair for people to sit on.
Make your drawing is to scale. An easier way that measuring everything constantly is to use graph paper. Then create a scale reference such as two squares = 10cm . This will depend on the size of the squares on your paper.
Use drawing tools to assist you such as a ruler, protractor, compass, set square and /or flexible curves.
Isometric
This is an example of the type of grid to use when drawing isometric views. The 30 degree angles are already provided as well as the vertical lines. Hopefully you can see how easy it is to construct cube shapes from this graph.
This type of graph can assist you to draw complex shapes. In this drawing the use of value makes turns the object into an optical illusion.
This is the power that using accurate angles and value can create realistic 3D forms. If you are unsure what values to use on your drawing, try setting your paper models from earlier underneath a light in a dim lit room. If you are still unsure, take a photo from the right angle and then insert into Photoshop. See below. You will need to pay attention to subtle details! |
Below: Use Photoshop to help you see the tonal values of your chair. Take a photo of a model and direct a light, such as a torch onto the chair. In Photoshop change the settings to 'Image' > 'Adjustments' > 'Black & White.' If there isn't enough contrast, go to 'Image' > 'Adjustments' > 'Shadows and Highlights.' You can use the colour select tool to further show you where individual values are.
Final Model
If there is time, make a final model. Make it as close as you can to how you would want the finished product to be.
Materials you could use:
- Measure for correct proportions
- Make it to fit your ergonome!
- Use good craftsmanship
Materials you could use:
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This is a 1:4 scale model of André Bloc's Bellevue Chair. The model is made of chipboard, spackle, aluminum wire, and spray paint. Found on Behance by Ericka Ricciutti.