chair questions

I interpreted rest as the cessation of work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.

The folding function is needed to allow the chair to recline so the seated individual can rest comfortably.

This chair is of value to the user because they can rest for a short time period without having to worry about getting out of the chair, since the reclined back would move forward and the seat would push them up when they are ready to exit.

The chair looks this way because it offers a new design that could enhance dull waiting areas, while offering an argument about using new materials for furniture production.

Chair Questions - Work

How is the assigned word interpreted?

My assigned word is work. Through observation, I realized that work does not necessarily mean sitting behind a desk. In my project, I define work as “knowledge work.” Like the word “work,” “knowledge work” is also still a broad term. Knowledge work includes communication and the exchange of ideas. The chair can facilitate this work by allowing for the user to be in different positions and interacting with others. The chair will also allow for the user to feel a sense of privacy when independent thinking is needed.

Folding Methods Research

Through my research, I have found that folding can be a space saver or folding can create more usable space that otherwise wasn’t there. In my chair, folding will mean that there will be more possibilities and the possibility of more usable space. Since knowledge work generally happens in a community space, rather than at someone’s designated office space, it is important to me that the chair offers flexibility for the user to personalize the chair through folding.

Persona

Since the chair is for knowledge work in a non-designated space, the chair will have a lot of different users in one day. It is important for the chair to be light weight and easy to move. The person approaching the chair will have the opportunity to adjust it to fit their own personal need. The goal is to make the adjustment a smooth transition and something that happens naturally (like the man in the video who subconsciously moves his chair over a couple inches).

Aesthetics

Since the chair may have a lot of elements to it because of the different folding opportunities, it is important that the chair does not look visually heavy. A visually heavy chair will make the chair look more complicated than it actually is. A heavy aesthetic would defeat the purpose of making a chair that gives the user options while being easy to use and come naturally to the user. 

Chair Questions - Work

How is the Assigned Activity Interpreted? In my project work is defined as completing tasks at a desk. When people are doing work at a desk, there are two main postures, which is to sit or stand; other postures such as kneeling are not effective for long periods of time due to the reduced blood flow and extended muscle tension. The chair, in work, is to support the sitter in a comfortable manner that supports their body for periods of time, whether short or long. When completing tasks at desks, I have found that a large complaint is the lack of different seating styles/movement; constantly sitting in a single position often makes people restless. 

Folding Methods Research When the chair is in its folded state, it has the advantage of saving space, but also changing the sitting angle of the sitter, modifying the angle at which they can approach their work. Folding, through my research, has largely been used to make things smaller or to make things stronger. An additional use of folding is to change the state of a particular thing, and in my chair I have taken the attributes of reducing size and changing of state as two integral components. 

Persona This chair has value to the user because it is light and compact, while also providing the support and quick modification for varying tasks and work heights. This versatility increases its uses in different environments. The target age group for the chair is 25-35. Because the materials used in my chair are metal and metal, the ergonomics of the chair are not the best for people who need more support in their chairs, namely those who are of older age. 

Aesthetics The chair’s outward appearance resembles a folding chair, which was the basis for this design; because chairs take up space in the form of a cube around the feet and back of a chair, it is hard to reduce the space that a chair requires to be used; if there are space constraints for an area that is constantly changing in function, folding chairs have an advantage of being easy to move, transport, and store. This particular folding chair idolizes the ubiquitous folding chair, and seeks to improve upon it by introducing an element of modularity to the otherwise stiff, single position folding chair. 

Chair Questions - Observation

1. How is the Assigned Activity Interpreted?

Observation can be defined as directing your focus to paying attention to details. Much observation is done as an individual activity. Observation is an activity that is not carried out for a long period of time.

2. Folding Methods Research

Observation tends to be an activity with methods of observing that are executed in a variety of positions. This chair folds down and up to support two different sitting positions. Folding often changes how something works or functions, and that is exactly what happens when this chairs when you choose which position to use.

3. Persona

This chair has a target audience and users of young adults to older adults. Age range includes 20s to late 40s. It is designed for average weight adults.

4. Aesthetics

This chair has an organic form with ergonomic needs considered. The form fits the function. It is an interactive piece, but it does not serve to me the main attraction or focus in its environment. The aesthetic is modest but not over-looked. It is to observe in, not to observe it.

Chair Questions - Learn

How is the assigned activity interpreted? 

Learning is defined as to gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught. I wanted to create a chair that is best suited for high school and college students. By designing a comfortable chair to learn in, one can get the best situation to expand their knowledge and skills.

Folding Methods Research

The chair I am building will allow for flexibility. It will be able to fold away into a compact space and will be easy to handle. The objective is to be able to move the chair wherever it needed to be for maximum potential in a classroom setting. 

Persona

This chair is mainly for students attending  high school and/or college. (15-23) Most students will be in casual clothing, like jeans and a t-shirt for example. Students will have laptops and other electronic devices they will have to be working with during class. The chair will be a value to the user because it will take all of these characteristics under consideration to make the ultimate experience for the student. The chair will be comfortable while still performing the task of allowing the student to have an excellent learning environment. 

Aesthetics


The chair will be made from various types of wood and plastic. It will have maximum capabilities of movement and be able to fold with ease. It will have an organic form which will relate to nature. The chair will be a comfortable space for students to sit for long periods of time. 

Chair Questions

How is the Assigned Activity Interpreted?

In my project learning is defined as gaining knowledge through observation, study, experience or being taught.  The users of this chair will be students in elementary schools K-3.  This chair will allow students to learn in the typical classroom setting.

Folding Methods Research

The chair I plan to create will be easy to use and allow for the greatest amount of flexibility in the classroom because I intend to create a chair that folds completely flat.  This allows for easy storage and flexibility in a classroom where teachers teaching this audience need to be able to rearrange easily and move things easily to create a dynamic learning environment.  And can still function as cushioning when students sit on the floor as well.

Persona (Phase 1)

This chair is of value to the user because it provides more seating options than the typical chair in a classroom setting.  It also completely folds up into a flat piece of furniture teaching the students construction methods and allowing the greatest amount of classroom flexibility for other activates that require more space.

Aesthetics

The scheme for my chair looks the way it does because of the way it folds into a flat piece, the aesthetics are simple and geometric, similar to chairs in most classroom settings geared towards young children.

Work_arfisher

1.How is the Assigned Activity Interpreted?

Work is not only defined as doing a physical or mental activity. It also corresponds as an engineering structure such as bridges, or docks. I am compering a bridge to a chair. A bridge is a physical structure that allows us to get from one place to the other, to cross a body of water, to save time. Well, a chair is also a physical structure that allows us to rest our bodies while doing an activity. Therefore bridge=chair, which means that work=chair.? (It makes sense in my head)

2. Folding Methods Research

Folding a chair saves space and becomes easy to transport. The first possible folding method of this chair consists of connecting the two pieces together when the chair is needed or disconnecting them. The second would be making the fold vertical instead of what it is ordinary used (horizontal).

3.Persona

This chair can be used by anyone, but because of its angle shaped pieces one might think that is guided towards young people (15-25). This chair could be used anywhere by anyone. 

4. Aesthetics

The aesthetics of the chair centers on the pieces that are joint together to then form the chair. The first viewpoint  would be the area for the back. This area consists of two parts that intersect together thus creating the angle of comfort that people need in a chair, this will allow them to have some back rest and molding to their back necessities, taking into consideration ergonomics. Some features of bridges would be brought into the design.