Instructions

These are the step by step instructions for assembling my chair. I chose to present them as static photos as that is the format in which they would be distributed if in production. The step by step instructions have 9 steps and the chair is fairly easy to assemble.

Final

This is my final model. I am fairly happy with how it turned out however im disappointed that the side tabs didn't stay in firmly enough. I found, when making my model that the more you put it together and pull it apart, the more it deteriorates. That is one consideration when working in a medium such as cardboard. I have left the chair in its final form in order not to wear it down further. I am happy that i ended up achieving the curves and that they are very neat adn quite subtle. I like the complexity the side elevations show as well. The proportions seem to work well for the purpose the chair will serve- to 'perch'. Below are some more images as well as a 1:1 model timeline of the four finished models i made. I made another model from xanita that features in the earlier posts but is not featued in the timeline as I wanted to show more refined finishes from the two cardboards. The first xanita mock up that i left out was more of a canvas for the next two so is not as highly refined.

The chair is brand ready with lots of surfaces for printing opportunities.

Branding

For the branding of my chair I downloaded the SaloneSatellite logo and while keeping proportions the same, adjusted the size to fit my chair. I wanted simple graphics on the chair as the chair itself is quite a complex shape. I practised spraying the branding on by using a 160gsm sheet of paper which i cut the stencil from. I realised that this wouldn't be able to take too many sprayings so I got a stencil laser cut out of acrylic. I did a couple of test sprays and then I masked off my model with newspaper and used the stencil to spray on the branding. I positioned the branding along a fold line up the side of the chair which i think emphasises the complex form of the chair and provides a suitble, bold yet basic branding. It is relevant to the event it sits in and is visible from pretty much all angles as it runs up both sides of the chair. I put the branding on my second model first before putting on my third and final model.

Flat patterns

This is the front of my chair with the appropriate cuts identified. (This is the outside of the chair) This is the back or inside of the chair with all the appropriate cutc identified. I only used curve cuts by removing the top layer and direct slices that go 9mm deep.
This is the flat pattern with dimensions. This demonstrates an economic use of material as it is just less than 1830 wide and exactly 1220 tall. The thickness is 10mm.

In context

This is my chair in context. The chairs would be assembled at the entrance of the Salone Satellite exhibition where a projector screen would be up showcasing all the entrants work and where they are in the event and how to get to their stall. This area, at the front, would be a waiting area and a breif seating area. This would mean that no one would be relaxing too much in the chair, but more, 'perching' for 5-10 mins. I curved the seat in order to create a slightly more comfortable chair to sit in and the back rest is short as to let the user knwo the chair is not so much for relaxing as it is 'perching' or waiting.

Model making

This is my final design with branding.

These are my second and third models. They both have branding on them.

This was my first model on which I found the problems i had to fix. the main problems I found were the side tabs that didn't properly tuck in. In this image, you can see i have added on a tab with masking tape in order to see if an attached tab would hold the side tabs in further. It proved to work, however, they still posed a slight problem in the second and third models. The second model I did, the holes in which these tabs push into were slightly off the right angle and were slightly too long. This let them slide back out slightly so I redid the model a third time making sure to get the holes on the side the right angle and size. I acheived this, however, they stil marginally slid out so if i was to make another model I would have the two tabs interlock within the shell of the chair so that they pulled back against each other and you wouldn't be able to see it from looking at the chair. Unfortunately this was an expensive process and also time consuming but with more time i would fix the problem this way.

Me at work.

Xanita board 1st attempt

This was my first attempt at the 1:1 mock up out of xanita board. I used the same method of achieving the front and seat curves as i did when i made the mock up of that area and it worked really well. I achieved the subtle curvature without it tearing. I came across another problem though as I found that the xanita board was a lot stronger than the other cardboard I had been working with and the xanita board didnt want to stay in place as much, but recover to its natural straight form. This caused a problem with the side tab which didn't stay folded in against the side. I overcame this problem by adding a small tab which slotted into the side to hold it in place. This, however, meant that I only had the one final attempt to get it right. At this stage, I will try my best to locate where the hole should be so the tab can slot in neatly.