Concept three

This was my third concept with which i experimented with an interlocking system at the top. The three pieces of xanita baord intertwine with each other to lock together. Each leg will have a locking system to hold them together as well. Im unsure whether the legs will hold locked when pressure is applied to the seat- this may need an additonal brace at the base of it.

Concept two

For this concept, my inspiration came from my second esquisse where we had to hold 100kg. I looked to what had worked for me in that circumstance and applied it here. The interlocking base provides strength as well as a nice neat zig zagged bottom. The puzzle-like shape can be altered- i just showed that to demonstrate the modular function it can take on.

Concept one

This was my first concept i came up with. I began with simply a stool that had no back rest and evolved it into one that looked like a traditional high backed chair. Through this evolution came this concept. It is in between both- a stool with a sligth backrest. The stool is made from the one piece of xanita board and is quite minimal. I think the design is effective in the way that it folds back onto itself. I am fairly confident that the stool will support the required 150kg.

concepts

This was another concept i came up with when i looked back at the second esquisse with which we had to make a cardboard model that held 100kg. For this esquisse, I used zig-zagging strips slotted together for support with a box over the top to hold it altogether. My solution to that esquisse worked and managed to hold up the 100kg so i used this knowledge to come up with this concept. I have used two identical zig-zagging strips for the base which are interlocked by slots cut out of both. I then put a top on it to hold it together. I also added a variation to the top (leggo-like shape) so that they can be slotted together to add a modular function.

concepts

These are some sketches for a range of pieces of different types. There is a squat stool, another stool with a slight backrest that could be classified as a 'perching' stool and also a proper more traditional chair. I was playing around with simply slotting the pieces back into itself as I am aiming to use only the one piece of material. The slanted bottom panels add more support as they are placed under where the person would sit.

concepts

This was one design i came up with inspired by a wooden table i came across. It is made from 3 identical pieces of xanita board which are interlocked to create a hexagon. The render shows the stool using red, yellow and blue, however these are not the colours i would choose, though show how the pieces interlock. The vertical faces of the stool would need a locking system along the edge of each and if this didnt hold the weight, perhaps a brace around the bottom would need to be added. I like the simple shape but nice graphics its achieves. I made a model from paper of the stool and found it fitted in neatly until i thought about the thickness and rigity of the xanita board. I then made a quick model from foamcore to experiment with a material that had some thickness to it and found that i would need to cut out the bulk of the xanita board through the section that interlocks to allow for the other piece to fit below it (as seen in top right).

Humans and seating

This is a board i put together to look at the ways different poeple interact with furniture. I looked mostly at squat stools which I plan to design for. I think that short stools are more aesthetic when made from cardboard and can have some quirky yet neat designs. This analysis gives me an idea of how poeple sit on stools and whether a small backrest is needed or the height in comparison to the person ie. how bent thier legs are when sitting down. Also the posture that people take when sitting on stools could give some insight into the balance that is needed ie. how high is it in comparison to the diameter/length/width of the top of the stool.

Effective/economical use of material

I came across this image as i was researching and really liked how effective this design is with such a simple form repeated. The shapes that the material are folded into definately looks secure and quite supportive thorugh the way the two pieces have been locked together. The two pieces are identical and do not have any complicated locking systems or tabs etc. A very effective design overall.

Themeboard

conclusion: Salone satellite Milan

I have chosen to design furniture for the Salone Satellite event in Milan as it does not appear to have much seating and there seems to be enough room to establish some kind of seating/social area. I like the idea of stools as they encourage more interaction between people. I feel that with high backed chairs etc. the more bulk a chair has, the more they set up a barrier when placed together. I also found that there isn't a vast amount of space as at the 100% design Tokyo show so therefore the smaller the 'chair' or 'seat' the better and smaller chairs are more economical and less wasteful (keeping in theme of using cardboard for furniture). I would like to play with the idea of having either the graphics or the shape of the seat making a pattern or something when placed together ie. hexgon-shaped chairs when put together making a honeycomb-like pattern. I want to try and construct the seat using the one piece of material or otherwise repetition of the same shape so that the visitors to the show can either construct it themselves or carry the pieces. The seat obviously must be made form xanita board, hold 150kg, use no adhesives or fixings (only locking systems), be portable, aesthetic and have areas to be printed on.
I have chosen to set up an area at the entrance of the pavillions that the Salone Satellite exhibition is in at the Milan fairgrounds. The area will serve as a meeting point, resting area and waiting area for perhaps those waiting for others still looking around. The seating will not serve as a place for relaxation so much as the event wants visitors looking around rather than sitting. The graphics will tie in with the theme of the event and become a focal point as visitors walk in. There will be a screen or blank wall on which a projector will show images or short clips of the various entrant in the event.
There could also perhaps be a bench along the front wall that people can use to write details, sketch or fill out forms if there are any that relate to feedback or anything. The stools will provide seating for this as well.
This is a quote from a Belgian group that exhibited in the Salon Satellite event last year on ecodesign; "Ecodesign is very much an implicit parameter and not a passing fad. It is a state of mind, not a label. The choice of a material, the innovativeness of the solutions, the size of the object and the finish have strong, original, poetic connotations. Creators that combine quality of life, respect for the environment and for the user in their creations."

Analysis of Event: 100% Design Tokyo

Analysis of Event: Salone Satellite Milan

Analysis of Event: Design:Made:Trade

One single rectangular piece of cardboard

Here's the link to a video i found of i guy who folded a single piece of cardboard into a small seat. When he unfolds it it doesn't look too sturdy but it seems to hold his weight alright.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxD9UuiSAFo&NR=1

This is another really cool design that expands out to become different types of seating from a loung like chair to bed-like seating. Very cool idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKN7J3hLp7I

Another very clever collapsible stool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkJBIwhQhoA&feature=related

Esquisse 4: Xanita board

This is the result i ended up with when using different types of folding methods to create a box-like shape of dimensions 60mm x 60mm x 60mm with 10mm Xanita board. We had to come up with our own locking system to join the two ends which meant that the board needed to lock in both directions so that it didn't pull apart with the tension of the other folds. My joining system worked quite well and was suprisingly strong.