A chair that embraces comfortability and function
Project Overview
User Focus
Limited living spaces often make it difficult to accommodate both a comfortable reading chair and a bookcase. For readers who value the tactile experience of physical books and the comfort of curling up in a cozy chair, this creates a challenge.
Design Opportunity
This project explores the integration of seating and book storage into a single, space-efficient piece of furniture that balances luxury, comfort, and functionality. Through the exploration of various design themes and configurations, I aim to create an inviting reading chair that is aesthetically pleasing, comfortable to sit in and functionally holds books.
Project Details
Duration: 3 weeks
Tools: Illustrator and Photoshop
Visual Design Exploration
This exploration focused on identifying potential forms, colors, materials, and finishes to establish the design’s overall aesthetic direction. These findings informed the concept development process, guiding the refinement of configurations that balance comfort, functionality, and visual appeal. Ultimately, I decided to move forward with the Second Visual Theme to maintain a more modern appearance with reference to the form in the Third Visual Theme.
First Visual Theme
Second Visual Theme
Third Visual Theme
Configuration Development
The average size of reading chairs, books and human factors by the ANSUR II 2012 Anthropometric Data were looked at to further develop the configuration of the book and chair combo.
Ideal Orthographic Configuration
Side Profile
Front Profile
Back Profile
Final Look
The final chair design consists of two main components. The upper portion features a single molded shell with flowing curves and a leather exterior, creating a comfortable and luxurious seating experience. This upper form appears to float above a dark wood base, which is being explored with either a rounded or squared back. Integrated within the base is a concealed book storage compartment, accessible through a sliding panel that maintains the chair’s clean, seamless aesthetic.
Chair upper form
Chair base: rounded back
Chair base: rounded back
Chair put together