Deriva: desenvolvendo uma cadeira em madeira e jeans

Abstract

The project aims to design a chair that doesn’t conform to the standard measures chosen by the mass production industry, that fits the medium stature of 1.60 meter, that is for medium-term sitting, and meets resistance, ergonomics, comfort, and beauty criteria. Mixing Munari’s (2022) 12-steps project methodology with Schön’s (2016) reflective practice, a problem was defined, data and references were analyzed, understanding the object and its relation to the anthropometrical measures shown by Panero and Zelnik (1979), led to decisions of form and materiality. Eight prototypes were made, of which 4 were 1:1 scaled chairs, 1 was a 1:5 scaled chair, 3 were material testing—denim—1 being with PVA glue, and 2 with epoxy resin, in attempts to stiffen the fabric. Executing the chair involved a mixture of manual techniques, denim upcycling, 3D modeling software, digital fabrication, and theoretical research. Common materials in furniture manufacturing—solid wood and plywood— were proposed, as well as innovative materials for the area—composite made of denim and epoxy resin–, where both contributed to the idea’s development. The solution was achieved with a chair that relates anthropometric measurements and ergonomics while being aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, although with different materials from the ones proposed at first.