The structure works- now its time for design decisions

After the one to one scale tryout I had to make one to five scale prototype using laser cutter. I had to see the shape and how a chair can become a daybed when more parts are added.

 I cut different shapes of backs to decide how it should look like. All of them were to square and reminded garden furniture. That wasnt what I wanted at all. Horrible.

When it became a day bed it became even more horrible. It were to many parts, it became heavy and the result were not justifying so many parts.

 The only good thing that came out of that were the wedges. I tried different shapes.

Then I thought that maybe its better to have backless seat. It reduces the weight and this one can serve as a storage place (the pipe). But I still had a problem with how the bed looks like.

after speaking with some people I knew I have to change the bed. I still wanted that my chair will be able to transform to something else. So I thought about a coffee table. 

Now I could play with the shape more since Im not limited with legs width. 

I started to sketch from cardboard

Now it was decided: Backless rocking low chair that becomes a table. The legs are very simple. You can just put them under the chair legs. Detailed pictures will come..

Now I have to decide on the shape. The silhouette of the chair. It should speak furniture and not a toy, But not a square either. How to find the balance. Tomorrow I will look at rocking armchair silhouettes. Its interesting how we recognize objects by their silhouettes and even a small shift can provoke totally different association.

Shaping real size

 Creating angle of 107 

  Drilling with square drill using angled surface

 Connections 107 angle

 Connection to stabilize the construction

Turning point

I wanted to use mattress sponge to create seats. But it went to far from my concept. If I use sponge, it means I have to make the covers and use more materials then I have to. Its also becomes too heavy and sponge is toxic material. Using toxic materials contradicts with design for happiness. Heaviness contradicts with nomadic lifestyle. I was recommended to change a bit the target group.

So now its students or people in the beginning of they carrier that move for work and exploring new opportunities.

My materials changed to sheets of wood and textile. The wooden sheets are cutted in specific way and its possible to weave the textile (that a users can buy by them selves) in to the wooden frames using other designed connections.
Benefits: Light (carry just the frames), easy recycling, non toxic, puzzle like, no limit of parts, a user can give it another look by using different fabric, a big difference between the separate parts then to when they are together as finished furniture. The users will fill that they did something because of that.
The connecting parts can be designed from other type of wood, another color and so on. They help to achieve different look as well.

Thinking about trends

http://trendwatching.com/trends/7trends2014/

Conjunctive ambiguity - what is that?

I discovered conjunctive ambiguity while reading Paul Hekkert article Design aesthetics: principals of pleasure in design. In simple words it means double meaning. For example when a pattern is ambiguous, it allows more then one interpretation. Apparently when we see these kind of designs we experience a "wow" effect which can be repeated over and over again depending on the case.
Why? It is all connected to evolutionary psychology so we prefer environmental patterns and features that are beneficial for our development of the senses  in order to survive. Because of that we learned to enjoy discover this patterns and features.
So here are some examples of conjunctive ambiguity.

Institute du Monde Arabe by Jean Nouvel. What you see from distance is not just a beautiful pattern but also shutters that open or close depending on the sun.

"Clouds" textile tiles could leave different impression if it was just one big piece of fabric. But here a closer look makes the viewer see that its multiple pieces that can be arranged in variety of shapes and colors.

Hidden Creativity: QR Code Portrait Hides Double Meaning

http://weburbanist.com/2011/05/26/hidden-creativity-qr-code-portrait-hides-double-meaning/

I would like to use conjunctive ambiguity in my design. My idea is to make a pattern as part of the seat design but the pattern will be created out of function. Details later...

New name: Modular seating system for the living room aimed for nomadic lifestyle.

Now I know that my design will consist from multiple items that will serve as seats. I am thinking about different textiles and soft surfaces. Low seats. Maybe with possibilities for low tables. Can be assembled in a desired way according to activity and occasion. My design should speak furniture. Not seating pillows or carpets. 

Done some more reading today. Article about design for happiness. What are the ingredients of that design.

Positive Design: An Introduction to Design for Subjective Well-Being

Pieter M. A. Desmet* and Anna E. Pohlmeyer

http://www.ijdesign.org/ojs/index.php/IJDesign/article/view/1666/595

Enjoy!

Seating or sofa. How to call it? What is that?

I am thinking about softness and coziness that you can assemble with cushions and textiles. Multiple items. Passel like. I dont know if I can call it a sofa. Maybe its a seat.

First I have to create visual identity of the new nomads. What is their environment? Their activity? What kind of objects surround them? The seating have to emphasize their identity. They have to recognize themselves in the seating. This factor creates more attachment.

From there I can think about three levels of design (visceral, behavioral and reflective) and what I should include in design of each level. 

I was browsing and found some pictures of seats, sofas that I like. They inspire me with shapes, flexibility, the way that textile designed, how 2d becomes 3d and so on.