Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sketch Up Movies
Chair Half Closed
(forming a capsule for easy transportation and storage)
(forming a capsule for easy transportation and storage)
Chair Open
(ready for use)
My Concept
My design concept is to produce a portable office chair which balances modern aesthetics with comfort and convenience. It will be aimed at moderate users who are not constantly at their desk and are in need of an all inclusive office space with the ability to be moved and stored in a compact manner.
I will design it in such a way to allow it to perform new functions and a higher level of convenience by incorporating technology and storage compartments for other equipment needed in the workplace. For example my concept will allow users to store books and other materials in in-built shelves and drawers. Thus my office chair will be a mini workspace for users, a very functional design for those in need of a compact, all inclusive portable work area to store all their work materials in a modern capsule like chair once they are done using it.
Sketches
Wheels and Hinges
Final Research
Multi-purpose Office Chairs Continued
These are unusual types of office chairs that perform various other functions than that of the traditional work seat. Not only do they include a place for a laptop or screen, but they also provide a small table for users to put either a keyboard or other work materials on.
But perhaps the most important function they perform, is that of a compact workspace which allows individuals to enclose all their materials in a small capsule type design when finished utilizing them. Although these are interesting benefits which I intend to explore further in my design, the materials used provide further aspects to think about. The materials used for chair #2 makes it look rather cheap, unappealing and un-business like. This is not ideal for the type of clients I want to target my work chair design to. Although the materials used in chairs 1, 3 & 4 are slightly more classy and professional looking, the seat and workspace itself does not look entirely comfortable for heavy users.
3. & 4. http://gizmodo.com/347890/globus-mobile-is-office-in-a-bubble
These two examples offer insight into a more functional and portable workspace if I were to incorporate it into my work chair design. Its storage capacity is greater than chairs 1 through 4, yet it offers similar design features than the above, but with a new creative twist. However I would now need to consider how to include this in a design of an office chair.
These designs effectively combine two things; a workspace and a chair thus I am interested in attempting to do something along these lines with my own design. However the materials used do not do well to convey a classy, businessman design aesthetic. Rather its focus remains on functionality and convenience over aesthetically appeasing design patterns and materials.
5 & 6. http://dornob.com/modular-office-furniture-wood-box-storage-desk-chair/
7. http://dornob.com/mobile-box-office-convertible-metal-desk-chair-cabinet/
8. & 9. http://www.itechdiary.com/kruikantoor-portable-office-desk-made-from-eps-foam-material.html
Materials and Textures
After gathering research on various types of office chairs I have found a common problem; that some of the materials used in many of the multi-use office chair designs do not do well to reach the target audience in which I want to aim my design. I intend to look into materials that will effectively appeal to a moderate user, who is of a reasonable wealth and class. Therefore I aim to create a multi-use chair that conveys a sense of modernness, class, creativity and comfort.
I like the idea of including some carvings in the material and texture of my work chair to contribute to an overall traditional vs. modern aesthetic.
This will make my design more visually interesting, and hopefully set it apart from other office chairs.
1. http://www.chairaddict.com/antique-chairs/carved-oak-gothic-chair/
2. http://www.artfactory.com/chair-african-antique-chieftan-chair-cc361-p-5088.html
3. http://rjhorner.com/page/2
4. http://www.hudsongoodsblog.com/?m=200906
Further Research
Multi-purpose Office Chairs
These chairs, like the above, are of a fairly unconventional design aesthetic and allow users to conduct various processes other than just providing a place of comfort and rest. I like the technological aspects of these chairs, as this is a vital part of most workplace processes, therefore I am interested into looking at designing a work chair that incorporates similar features. However I do not like the way that these chairs are designed as they do not look extremely comfortable for users. The amount of metal around the chair itself contributes to this perceived downside.
Much like chairs 2 & 3, these include certain technological aspects which allow users to access a computer and television screen when sitting on these chairs. However, I like the design aesthetic of chair #5 over and above chairs 2 & 3 as it appears to more inviting and comfortable than the design of the bulk metal frames surrounding the other two. Nonetheless, chair #4 appears to encourage a better posture for its users thus a balance between the two would be appropriate to my design.
These two chairs are very unique, something I would like to incorporate in my design. What I like about them is that it allows users to store books and other material in the in-built shelves, a useful function to consider when I design my office chair. The first chair however, does not appear to be very stable or entirely practical for those in need of a heavily used work chair. However the advantage of this design is that it is portable, another aspect I intend to look into for my work chair design. Conversely, the second chair incorporates a mini workspace for users, a very functional design for those in need of a compact, all inclusive, work area. All these ideas will prove useful when I start to sketch ideas for my own office chair design.
6. http://www.aboutdesigninterior.com/chair-with-multiple-functions/
7. http://buy-stylish-furniture.com/2009/10/24/cabinet-chair-bookcase-from-ontwerpers/
The design aesthetic of this seat is unusual and creative, and the twirled capsule shape of this chair is visually captivating to the eye. The materials used are also modern and appeasing. In saying this though, the functionality of this chair could be better.
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