We will design furniture to rest on in small groups (1-3 people) with a focus on gesture and the posture of its user. Every group will start with specific research on a person with attitude. This investigation will outline characteristics and will be translated into your design of this particular piece of seating furniture. The characteristics can be driven by a personal and even naïve approach and perhaps supported by witty anecdotes. The  furniture will need to carry the DNA of that specific person and make us think about new seating furniture typologies. 

In parallel, we will analyze different seating furniture typologies based on seating positions and gestures ( chair/chaise longue/ fauteuil / recliner / rocking chair / stool / bench / canapé / divan ). The ratio between backrest and seating surface influences posture and comfort. The design of a piece of seating furniture belongs to one of the foremost disciplines in the design field.

TOOLS and METHOD

During the concept phase, we will start with sketches and models to a scale of 1:5. The Materials will be blue foam block ( XPS Hartschaum ) and sandwich boards ( Foam X – Pur Kern ). We will follow an iterative concept and each group will need to build more than one model to develop their design. The final concept presentation will be supported by a screen slideshow with sketches and physical models - 1ECTS

The next design phase will be the drawing and preparation time. Every group will need to prepare drawings/illustrations of their project (CAD/ink/aquarell/rendering/collage), as well as a list of materials (timber and boards with w x h x l - fasteners with screws and pieces). Finally, we will test our ideas in 1:1 - 1ECTS

The making phase will be about the translation from a model and drawings into a 1:1, full-scale, prototype. Materials will be the same for all: plywood (Seekiefer  th=18mm), spruce wood (Fichte max 50x50mm) and a hard oil finish (Adler Legno-color  in pastel color code ) - 3ECTS

An exhibition of all the work will be held during the Angewandte Festival. For this collective exhibition, we will display our work in an appropriate framework. We will discuss and develop strategies on how to present your ideas in an interesting way, during the last meetings in June  - 1ECTS 

EVALUATION 

This course is structured in smaller stepping stones. Students will be asked to develop their projects in addition to attending lectures and meetings . Every phase will end with a submission of your work (PDF A4 - Landscape format) . It is possible to receive up to 8ECTS (2 extra). It’s not possible to join the course if you have missed the concept phase. You will be awarded grades and ECTS points for each of the four presentations. That grade will reflect your participation in critiques and other activities, the quality of the work itself and the work ethic you demonstrated during that period. 

WIP  19. März 2019

The DAE Holzwerkstatt is still under construction . . at the moment we can offer : 

Every Wednesday 10 am - 5pm _ open wood workshop for students particparting Studio Holz and others . Support by David Heinzl Stud.ass. and me .