Conva
Project Overview
This chair is inspired by summer evenings spent with friends and family - by the places we gather and catch up. Conva is a light weight, easy to move chair that blends in seamlessly, from indoors to out.
This project was my initial exploration into the realm of furniture. It provided me with a new process of physical prototyping that continues into my digital work.
It’s the little things
Sketching & Prototyping
Seating
Developing the chair, I thought about the balance between comfort and being able to engage in a conversation. The chair was developed as a piece of furniture that could withstand being outdoors, but would also fit in as an indoor piece.
The arms were long and wide to accommodate many different body types. The width of the arms was also designed to act as a table for drinks and your phone.
Lacing
Lacing was used as a way to maintain the outdoor use of canvas. When stretched out, the lacing would provide the user the ability to tighten up the canvas as if it were brand new.
I wanted the piece to have a long life. The ability for the user to replace the canvas whenever needed would help with both sustainability and user satisfaction.
Joinery Detail
Much of the piece was designed with my story in mind. All of the joints that are in the wood are nested together like a hug. All of the pieces are held together just by glue: no screws or other fasteners.
Dimensions
Materials
Selected materials are resistant to outdoor elements: white oak, canvas, and sun-resistant fabric. Leather and brass can be weather proofed to endure the outdoors.
The materials were all chosen to have a natural feel and a warmth to them. They’re all something that has different sensations when touched and interacted with.
Early Sketches
I started by drawing out the overall silhouette of the chair. The goal was to make something that felt relaxed, comfortable, and inviting.
Looking into ergonomics, I learned that there are common measurements and angles that best suit different types of sitting. For this project, I was looking for a silhouette that balanced both comfort and the ability to be engaged in conversation.
Scale Models
Quarter scale models allowed me to test proportion. I utilized hand building skills and a laser cutter to make the pieces and assemble them. These pieces majorly influenced not only the proportion of the final product, but allowed for me to make rapid decisions in what elements needed to be tweaked or left behind.
Wooden Frame
The frame was 3D modeled in Solidworks and then CNC milled.
After the CNC milling, I cut out the pieces and sanded them all to a smooth finish. The pieces were then assembled only using wood glue.
I wanted to avoid cold materials such as metal, even if they were something small like a screw head that a person would touch.
