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Aug 2023 - Oct 2023 | 7 weeks
Contoura Chair
The Contoura chair is inspired by the organic forms of nature mixed with a contemporary aesthetic. Its curved, steel legs and bent, wooden seating area blend together to create a calm and elegant form.
Design Research
3D CAD Modeling
Prototyping
Project Type /
University Individual Project
Brief
Students will reflect on their passion/
interests in design to create a chair that is aesthetically pleasing and marketable.
Researching Chairs on the Market
Chair Form Studies
Furniture Store Research
I visited the Design Within Reach furniture store in Houston, TX to see what types of chairs were on the market for inspiration. I took notes on the different forms and structures of the chairs.
Moodboard
Form & Style Inspiration
For the moodboard, I included various design features that i personally loved. I wanted my chair to have an organic, earthy, smooth, and modern form/aesthetic.
Form Exploration
Keeping in Mind the Moodboard
Sketch Concepts
Based on Ideation Sketches
After ideation, I focused on chair concepts using materials like metal tubes, wood, and soft fabrics. I selected concepts 3, 4, and 5 for their earthy, organic forms.
Shaping Ideas: Refining the Concepts
I refined the concepts by building small-scale models. After analyzing their form and aesthetic, I decided to move forward with concept 3.
Form Study Model
One-Fourth Scale
To improve the design, I curved the legs inward for a more organic look and added support beams for stability.
Finalizing the Contoura Chair
For the final design, I decided to put cherry veneers over the bent plywood. The curvy forms and smooth transitions give
the chair an organic and earthy feel. However, the black, stainless steel legs also give the chair a contemporary aesthetic.
Exploring the technical details
of the Contoura Chair
Material List
Fabrication Build Plan
Fabricating Final Prototype
After finalizing the design, I built a full-scale prototype. I used a CNC machine for the molds, laminated plywood, and shaped the steel tubes for the legs. After welding, grinding, and painting, I added 3D-printed stoppers, rubber tips, and assembled the chair with screws and dowels.
Organic, Modern, Smooth.
Elevate your space with the
Contoura Chair
The Contoura Coffee Series
A stylish chair collection that seamlessly blends comfort with a rich color palette inspired by different coffee hues
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