Community Furniture Design Project Final Post

Sketch

When I first came up with the idea for my design, it started out as a sketch in my sketchbook.the first thing that came from the sketch was a small model made out of cardboard, then I started to model it on Google SketchUp.

Sketch

SketchUp really helped make the chair to scale and get all the mortises and tennons to fit together and match up good. with the model done on the computer we used the laser cutter to cut out a small wood model.

Cardboard Model

We learned a few things from the model, I needed the model to be more ergonomic so it would be comfy, so I made the back at an angle so it wasn't straight up. we made another small model of the chair, but this time it was ergonomic.

Model in SketchUp

After we made the small models we made a full sized model of the chair, I learned that the chair had to be bigger with the full sized model. The final chair I made was bigger than the first full sized model and it was made out of good wood, so now it is in the energy centre for people to sit on and use.

First Model Side View

First Model Front View

There were some advantages to working with SketchUp, like getting everything lined up properly. It helped especially with the mortise and tennons. A habit that I picked up while using it was that I used the measure tape tool for everything.

Second Model Side View

Second Model Front View

The hardest thing about making the chair was probably the sanding, it took forever and it was hard work.

Full Sized model

When I finished the chair there was a huge feeling of accomplishment, it felt awesome that something started as an idea in my head and went to a full sized chair that someone can sit on.

Final Chair

My Full-sized Chair

I have finished making my chair in full size. I had to make a prototype first to get all the bugs out but now I have made my final chair. 

Prototype

My prototype was too small for a normal person, it would have been good for a child. My final chair is bigger and was made out of good wood not the lower grade wood the prototype was made out of.

My final chair

Documented Progress of My Chair

My design for my chair was that it kinda looked like a throne meeting a bridge. When I made my second model it had to more ergonomic because it was too straight on the back, so I had to give it more of an angle. I also gave it a half circle in the back so that it had a similar design to the side of the chair.

First Model Side View

I got some of my inspiration from my Pinterest design board. It helped me because it had so many different and unique things that I could see. Below is the URL to my Pinterest design board.

 http://pinterest.com/purplelitza/furniture-design-board/

Second Model Side View

 Google sketchup really helped me with making my model. I found the measure tape tool helped me the most by getting the lines straight and really helped me line up my mortises and tendons. If they were not lined up right the entire chair would not work at all, it would just be a bunch of cut wood.

First Model Front View

While creating my chair i had to make some reality checks to make sure that people would be comfortable and to make sure that the chair fit design standards. I had to make it more stable from side to side because it is really stable forwards and backwards, I also had to make the back on more of an angle so it would be more comfortable for people to sit on.

Second Model Front View

My Second Design in Sketchup

Final Wikiseat Blog Post

While making the wikiseat there were some successes and some struggles. Some struggles I encountered while making the wikiseat were getting started, I procrastinated more than I should have. I held off doing it until the last few days of building. Another struggle was trying to get the seat to be flat and level on the legs. My mom and I tried our hardest to do it but we did not succeed, but it still looks good and can hold me up. A success I had with the project was getting it done and having it be strong enough to hold me up, now I know it can hold my mom up.

My Wikiseat

If I could do anything differently I would start it earlier and not procrastinate. If I did that I could have out more work into it and made it look nicer. We could have took more time to make the seat sit evenly o the legs, added paint for a nice look and maybe even fabric and cushion on the seat. I think it looks bland and boring now but if I took more time to work on it I could have made it look more awesome than it already is.

Me Cutting Wood In My Front Yard

I learned about the design process in this project. I learned how to use the process and ask people about what they wanted in a seat. Other than that I already knew how to woodwork somewhat, so it just helped me get better at it.I am most proud about how the seat got finished and it doesn't look half bad for being made out of scrounged materials. Since i found all the materials in my basement I thought that it would look ugly and it looks like I was wrong. 

  

Just Finished Cutting Wood

My mom had seen the wikiseat, when she did she liked it she said it looked good for the materials that I used to make it. The materials I used were not very good looking. I had a feeling of completion when I finished the project and a good feeling because I made it for someone to help fix a problem that they had. When I just finished it I though "OMG I'm done it, now I can watch Netflix again" and I had a big relief because I did not have to work on it anymore. I liked the feeling of having it done, like any other type of work. I also was proud because it looked good and could actually hold a person up. Now my mom gets a seat to rest her old body in.

Me And My Finished Wikiseat

Cardboard Model

Cardboard Model of my chair  

Today we made cardboard models of what we want to make for the Energy Centre. I made a model of my chair based on the sketches I made.

Isometric View

Front View

Side View

Bottom of Model with logo

Flat Pack Furniture

The design standards for tables.
Dining tables should be 28" to 30" high, the chairs for the table should be 11" to 13" lower so there is enough room for people's legs. There should also be about 24" of legroom below the table with at least 12" of knee room. Bedside tables are usually not more than 6" above the height of the bed, coffee tables are usually 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the sofa and about the same height as the sofa.

End tables should be about the height or a few inches shorter than the armrest of the couch. Tables designed to conceal the backside of a couch that is not against a wall, also known as sofa tables should usually be 2/3 the length of the sofa and about the same height as the back of it.

What I want to make
 The project we are doing now is to make furniture for the Energy Centre that is attached to our school. The Energy Centre is a public place with lots of things to do so we want to make a place for people to relax in. I would like to make either a flat pack chair or table for this project.

Wikiseat Update

I currently have my legs and seat done, they do not look too good. All I need to do now is attach the seat to the legs. This weekend I will work on saturday and then on sunday I will have to finish the seat at home.