Alumni chair update
June 21st, 2009
Well it was a long time ago that I promised to keep you up-to-date with my progress towards a chair for the Chairs of the Alumni exhibition. No updates (other than this general one) fortunately doesn’t mean no progress - although as always I wish I was further along the adventure.
In-progress design for alumni chair
The above image shows the current state of my design. This is a CG rendering that I hope gives a reasonable idea of what the chair will look like. At this stage I’m thinking of building it from Tasmanian blackwood so it will be a touch lighter in tone (at least initially) and slightly less warm in colour. The generously wide seat will be woven in a dark blue nylon mono-filament.
Rendered for form only
I use 3D modelling and rendering quite a bit as an additional tool for resolving designs. While it can sometimes be misleading about overall proportion and scale, it is always useful for visualising different woods and design details.
When making a completely new chair design however you always need to create a sturdy mock-up and get multiple people to sit in it to check and adjust the dimensions and angles for comfort and usability. The position and angle of the back rest in relation to the seat is usually the critical investigation. This rough prototype in pine was done very early in the design process. The seat is woven from the same blue nylon as the final chair will be.
A structural prototype used for ergonomic investigations
You might notice in the renderings that each joint of the substructure has a smooth transition between the elements. This is shaped after glue-up. Extra wood is left on each element where it joins another so that this transition can be created. I’m currently working out systems for accurately turning the cylinders of the stretchers between these blocks of extra wood.
Entry Filed under: Wood
9 Comments Add your own
1. Nina | June 24th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Wow. When I saw the first photo, I thought the chair was already complete. Apparently not. How different will the final product be from the original prototype? Or does the design stay the same, and only the mechanics and material different? It looks great!
I have a question about the first photo in this post - how was it taken? It’s messing with my head.
2. Mark | June 24th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Now you’ve confused me! Messing with my head. The first two images are computer renderings. The third - the rough pine prototype - is the only photo. The background of the first image is an actual photo of a gallery. The chair is rendered onto it.
As I look at the third image - where the legs meet the deck - it seems like the image of a chair has been crudely photoshop-ed into the photo. But that is the only real photo in the post! Partly because there are no shadows.
Spooky eh.
3. Nina | June 26th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Ah….that explains it then! I should’ve worked that out in hindsight…..der…
4. the Village Carpenter | July 5th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Cool chair, Mark! I like both the CG renderings for their smooth transitions, but the squared up prototype is cool, too, and has more of an Asian feel.
5. Mark | July 5th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Thanks Kari. Interestingly several other people who have seen the prototype like the squared version.
6. Bill | July 15th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I think it was wise old Forest Gump who said, “Just build it, sit in it and then tell me how it feels”. Least I think it was Mr. Gump.
7. Mark | July 15th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
I will.
8. Sue Rowlands | August 30th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Hi Mark,
Congratulations on your chair! I was delighted to find your website!!
I haven’t had any contact with anyone since George’s funeral. It’s going to be so exciting to meet up with everyone and see what they’ve come up with. Yours is the only one I’ve seen so far….and I’m busting to see the rest!
If you’d like I can email you a photo of mine (or have you already seen photos?) - I haven’t had any feedback yet, and am expecting a bit of controversy. Of course my family say it’s great but they have to!
All the best, and see you in a few weeks,
Sue Rowlands (Kelly)
9. Mark | August 31st, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Great to hear from you Sue. And so glad you’re going to be there. I’m mostly busting to finish mine!
Will email you about photos.
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