OVERVIEW
Sal is a sculpted hardwood lounge chair inspired by the serene beauty of nature and its organic curves.
ROLE
TIMELINE
ADVISOR
PROGRAMS
AWARDS
Designer
Spring 2024, 10 weeks
Kimberly Snyder
Fusion 360
Adobe CC
Ps, Ai
Adobe CC
Ps, Ai
2024 SIT Furniture Design Award
Armchair
Lounge Chair
Chair
Design Brief
Design and build an ergonomically considered chair that comfortably fits a range a body types.
Observing Real Life
I visited furniture stores to further explore and understand chairs. I took photos of designs I found interesting or that had features I liked.
Finding a Form
In the beginning of my ideation, I focused on finding a balanced yet interesting form. As I sketched, I became drawn to armrests as they helped to create unique silhouettes.
The Vision
Furniture, at its core, is rooted in nature. I wanted to emphasize this fact through both the material and form.
Key Words:
Tranquil
Nature
Serene
Key Words:
Tranquil
Nature
Serene
Concept Selection
After evaluating all of my ideas, I settled on this final form. This concept drew inspiration from sculpture and nature and its form was largely influenced by my choice to prototype with clay.
Full Scale Model
I created a full scale model from 2x4 planks to properly test my ergonomics and address the stability concerns of the floating backrest.
From the model, I learned that the domino tenon joint, which connected the armrest to the front legs, was sturdy enough to withstand over 120 lbs of downward pressure on the backrest end.
From the model, I learned that the domino tenon joint, which connected the armrest to the front legs, was sturdy enough to withstand over 120 lbs of downward pressure on the backrest end.
Planning
To help visualize and prepare for the final construction, I made a rough CAD model of the chair and divided the backrest into sections with respect to the thickness and size of my planks.
Stacking the Backrest
Cardboard templates of each layer were laser cut to help map out the backrest pieces onto 8/4 Sapele Mahogany planks.
Carving, Sanding, & Repeat
An angle grinder was used to remove the bulk excess and achieve the rough shape before moving onto sanding. I repeatedly sketched on the surface as I sanded to help guide the shaping.
Stain & Finish
After the final pass of sanding, a finish was applied (Rubio Monocoat 2C - Mahogany) to even out the different wood tones and help with aging.
