Design and Build Your Own Chair.

In this class, you will learn how to design and build a chair. I will walk you through the entire design process from the initial inspiration through physical model making, 3d model making, prototyping and the final product.

Here is a summary of the lessons of this class:

1. The first lesson of this class is about the book that inspired this class and the values their writers stood for.

2. Here, I discuss why I picked this design and how designing a piece of furniture is more than just designing its final shape. It is about thinking about the entire manufacturing process, how it will be used, and how it will be disposed of in the most sustainable way possible.

3. In this lesson, I talk about everything you need to complete this class, from the tools you need as a designer to building the chair.

4. Here, I am making a series of sketches for myself in which I try to understand the dimensions of the chair, both in inches and centimetres.

5&6. I make my first 3d model and physical models and try to assess my challenges when making the chair in real life.

7,8,9&10. I talk a bit about the choice of materials, their standard dimensions, and how this might impact our design and the amount of waste created when cutting the chair components.

11&12. Here I talk about all the ways you can make your chair pretty and the choices I have made. Then, I’ll show you how I design the patterns and the shades of paint I have finally picked.

13. Here, I explain what your cutting files need to look like for the machine to use them for cutting.

14&15. We did the two prototypes before cutting the final board and the lessons we took away from those experiments.

16,17&18. All about the final design and the lessons we took away from it.

19. All about what needs to be highlighted when taking photos.

20. Here, you receive your assignment to create your chair.

Who is this class for?

Before taking this class, you should have been through the basic SketchUp modelling tutorials or know how to model in 3d in a similar software that can export files in 2D in DWG or DXF file format.

Why should students take this class?

Working with a CNC milling machine at FabLab or a similar Maker Space might not be easy at first, but going over the learning curve opens a world of possibilities and with the support of a professional team, it can even be fun. You will be able to make anything around you. You can start with chairs, and soon enough, you can do tables, cabinets, children’s toys and so much more. Soon you’ll be asking…what else am I capable of that I did not think was possible?

While I encourage you to work with a CNC machine, at the end of the day, the chair’s design is simple enough that you could make it with tools from your garage. I want you to see what else is possible and have new outlets for your creativity.