Orbit
A Bent-Plywood Chair
Ideation
For this project instead of sketching, I ideated with bristol board paper to experiment with form and the ways the planes could come together.
I developed the first model from 2 simple pieces of paper to a fully realized design.
Further Development
From the 1/10 scale model, I made 1/5 scale from task board and armature wire to understand how bent-ply worked before using the material.
Since task board is a moldable type of paper it was the best option for testing the design before going into the final model.
Ergonomic Testing
The final step before making the 1/5 scale model was testing the ergonomics of the chair to see how comfortable it would be and if someone would be able to leave easily.
I tested with several people of different heights and weights including myself. The measurements I used for the chair were based on the book “Measure of a Man and a Woman” by Henry Dreyfuss.
Modelmaking
I carved two different molds from pink insulation foam and clamped several pieces of birch plywood to get the desired shape for the chair.
The process took several days of steaming the plywood and gluing it together with wood glue to get a sturdy model.
Final Model
The final model of Orbit consists of a bent-ply seat and backrest with walnut veneer.
The legs of the chair are bent aluminum rods attached to the seat with two 3D-printed parts.
It also includes two feet at the bottom where the legs curve to prevent the chair from tipping forward when someone is sitting on it.
