Chenkang Kenny Wu
Portfolio
This is a undergrad furniture design project. Started with research, sketching, modeling, building, and resulted in a final prototype.
Elegantly Bridging the Gap between Anatomy and Craftsmanship
In a world teeming with designs that often blur into uniformity, bone chair's concept stands out as a testament to the marvel of human anatomy. Leveraging the organic curves of the body, this hand-carved chair mimics the intrinsic structures we so often take for granted.
Visually impact v.s. comfort
The ethereal beauty of Finn Juhl's 45 chair served as a significant source of inspiration. A celebrated icon of 20th-century design, the 45 chair possesses an unseen elegance, characterized by its strategic space between the frame and the seat.
On the other hand, the exquisite brass designs of a notable Chinese contemporary designer, particularly their lost-wax casting technique, provided a some guide for foundation.
Sketches, process shots, and numerous design iterations
From initial concepts exploring the fluidity of human bone structure to final renders revealing the chair's nuanced design elements, the journey showcased the challenge of aligning aesthetic aspirations with functional requirements.
Cross-functional collaboration and rapid iterations.
Curves in digital format
The domino joint
Understanding the nuances of joining different pieces of wood was paramount. The process of joinery is both an art and a science, determining not only the final look but also the structural integrity of the product. After some trials and error I decided to go with the most accessible domino joinaries to secure connections.
Walnut
Time is crucial, and from an initial assessment, employees face challenges in improving KPIs due to the plethora of third-party tools needed to achieve their objectives. Over-reliance on third-party apps and websites results in users having more than ten tabs open at all times.
What are some next steps moving forward?
Upon the completion of the prototype, I felt that the job far from done. The sitting experience is off when tested, a lot of production procedure needs to be redesigned.
The main problem in making is the back rest of the chair, due to its natural and dynamic curves it has to be precisely calculated in a three dimensional manner. If I were to revisit this chair design again I would think of it more modularly and possibly make it market ready.
