samsvedlund

table of

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Mad Tea

Ingrid

Lotus

Contents

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5

Anthropologie

Inspiration

1Ingrid

The prompt for this furniture piece was to freely design a chair using only one form of inspiration. After researching current

trends and what makes a chair the most inviting, I decided on the forest as my inspiration. The way trees seem to envelope you into their space, giving a sense of comfort and embrace,

how the sunlight peeks through the branches in golden rays of glory, warming your spirit, and the cushioning moss on the

forest floor inviting you to relax. These are the emotional reactions I want my chair to embody.

MoodboardDeciding upon an inspiration proved simple for me because of my obsession with woodland creatures and nature. I find the colors, textures and expressions magnificent in a place seemingly untouched by industrialization. I love the idea of an undiscovered world and how it may translate into design.

Initial Ideation

Sketches were done using fine tip pens and shading markers. Each idea was conceptualized with the

inspiration of the forest, it’s colors, and the feelings one encounters while standing between the trees.

Final Form Sketch

Fabrication

The seat base and upholstered seat were both cut using a CNC machine to get the most accurate cuts.

Each hole-connection was drilled at an angle using a built rig, and each brass piece was cut and fitted by hand.

Final DesignThe final design consists of ten oak spindles, a four by four

foot, 3/4 inch thick oak plywood sheet, eight feet of brass tubing, and one yard of emerald cotton weave fabric.

2Mad Tea

In painting it’s called a Triptych, 3 paintings that must exist as individual statements, but when placed together become

something that is more meaningful than the sum of the individual paintings could ever be. A tea or coffee cup is not

complete without a saucer and a spoon. Taking this concept of a set and reimagining it through the eyes of the Mad

Hatter is where I began my journey through this project. We were asked to draw inspiration from three words, I chose:

overgrown, eclectic, and organized chaos.

MoodboardMy approach to finding inspiration was very non-typical for the project brief of, a harmonious set of a cup, saucer and spoon. But to me, harmonious can mean a lot of different things; complimentary, proportionate, peaceful. However, the adjective harmonious is similar to beauty, in that it is subject to opinion. Therefore, the places I find harmony in my life are eclectic, chaotic and overgrown.

Initial Ideation

Initial ideation began by studying materiality and production processes. Keeping the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in mind, I was immediately drawn to three materials, wood, ceramic, and metal. The meaning behind the materials developed fluently.

Function Development

Learning how to throw pottery was a fundemental element to undertsanding the way shapes are formed. I was able to

discover and test forms that felt comfortable to hold, looked aesthetically pleasing, and were representative of my inspiration.

3D Form Modeling

Utilizing Solidworks and modeling decals, I was able to visualize many different aesthetic concepts. The final cup

design was rendered with a ceramic body, walnut feet and arms, and a hand painted or screen printed finish.

Final DesignTh final design was composed around the harmony of the materials. Similar to the Mad Hatter’s Tea party, the setting of the tea is grounded in wood. The brass representing the flare and the ceramic, the delicacy, of the tea party.

3Lotus

Restricted to one sheet of 3/4”, 4x8 foot baltic birch plywood, the project brief was to design a chair that formed to a given

clients body, yet was still comfortable for others to enjoy. After performing exact body measurement specifications and user-centered research, I came up with a design that

was oversized, allowing the user to enjoy the chair while sitting in many different positions, including “indian style”, also

called lotus position, giving the design it’s name.

MoodboardInspiration for this project came from the concept of solid and void, or “cut outs.” Because the project constraint was using one sheet of solid wood, I wanted my design to feel completely opposite, with a light, open form. I began by researching current designs that I thought successfully achieved this perception of ‘airiness’, while also studying architectural and artistic voids.

Initial Ideation

After discovering the inspiration for the chair I wanted to design, I created a series of thumbnail sketches to hash out many ideas quickly. Once a repetition in form became evident, I was ready to begin testing and fabricating my design.

Ergonomic Studies

Ergonomic studies were one of the most important parts of the lotus design. Since I was given a specific client to design for, I had to

take numerous body measurements and study the ‘strain points’ of the chair to make the design as comfortable as possible.

FabricationI designed my chair to be ‘flat-pack’ accessible and paid close attention to the connections between the wood pieces. I simplified my design to five pieces in total. The wood seat and back pieces attatch to the side pieces with eight screws on each side. In order to keep the “airy” look to the design, I countersunk the screws and covered the holes with wood dowels flushed against the wood so that the screws would not be seen.

Final DesignThe final design was created from one four by eight foot

sheet of baltic birch plywood. I decided not to stain the chair to keep the integrity of the wood intact.

4Anthropologie

For ten weeks, I worked in collaboration with Anthropologie West Side’s Visual Team to create a truly unimagined

experience through visual installation and design for holiday 2012. I learned a number of new skills and was able to assist

in initial ideation, design fabrication and installation. My favorite experience as an intern at Anthropologie was being able to see how customers would react to our installations,

putting a smile on their faces each and every day.

5Inspiration

In the Summer of 2012, I studied abroad in Greece and Italy for seven weeks to learn about Art and Architectural History. I

enjoyed being able to see another side of the world, opening my eyes to new kinds of inspiration. Growing up, I

always loved capturng life behind the lens of a camera. Now as an Industrial Designer, I am able to use my photography of the environment around me to inspire my designs. The

following photos are ones that I took during my seven week trip abroad.

Parthenon in Athens, Greece The Bay in Capri, Italy Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain

The Duomo in Florence, Italy Rustic Doors in Vicenza, Italy Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy

Cathedral of Santa Maria in Siena, Italy Oia Sunset in Santorini, Greece

“Middle Earth” in Sorrento, Italy The Cliffs in Santorini, Greece