Groups Task
As a group, we were first tasked with recreating Richard Sapper’s ‘Tizio Lamp’ out of a variety of materials provided to us. Initially, I felt the task went quite well as we began to plan and construct the lamp using basic sketches and the agreement that we would each be responsible for the construction of individual parts. However, we found that as we started to assemble our lamp using the various parts it started to become unbalanced. It eventually resulted in the lamp being unable to stand on its own without using rolls or sellotape to balance it out. When planning none of us in the group really took much notice of how essential the weights in the lamp were to it keeping it balanced. If we were to do it again, I believe we should spend more time planning what materials to use for the different areas of the lamp to allow for a better dispersion of the weight, so that the lamp could actually function as intended.
In hindsight, we probably should have focused more on creating the lamp together rather than making individual pieces and hoping they would work well when combined. This task was helpful however as it emphasised the importance of planning and working as a team before starting our final construction.
Individual task
The second part of our brief had us taking inspiration from the ‘Tizio Lamp’ and applying it to another product of our own design. I had a couple of ideas for products which could make effective use of the way the lamp uses weights to help it move around. I also noticed how the profile of the lamp became extremely narrow when it was straightened out and thought that this could be effectively applied to a number of different types of furniture. I thought about where this type of furniture would be most useful and decided to tailor it for use in small living spaces and micro apartments.
I first had the idea of turning the lamp into a mirror. Seeing how the lamp was able to be angled in various different ways gave me the idea of how useful a mirror would be if it shared the same principle. The mirror would work well for people of different heights as it could easily be adjusted to the user’s preferred height and the desired angle. It could also become omni-directional with the help of a pivot function in the base.
My second idea was to use the lamp movement for a flat pack chair. I wanted the design of the chair to allow it the become completely flat for easy storage whilst also being able to fold out into an ergonomic and comfortable chair. I chose to go with this idea as I felt there was a lot more to play around with than the mirror. In terms of aesthetic, I want the chair to be very minimalistic so it could easily fit into a variety of living spaces.
Creating the Chair
I first ran into problems when I was trying to sketch plans for how my chair would fold down, whilst still trying to be original and maintaining a recognisable aspect of the ‘Tizio Lamp’. I took the basic structure of the arm of the lamp and used it for the chair. I was struggling to visualise how the movement of the chair would work in my head and through sketches. I eventually opted to create a prototype to assist my thinking. I had a little trouble doing this at first (as evident by the taped-on legs) but it allowed me the get a clear idea of how the chair would fold away and how it needed to be laid out. Due to the way I structured the chair, I found that it was able to fold and pop out in either direction, which was an accidental but convenient feature. From the first model, I noticed that the chair seemed very blocky and uncomfortable so I looked more into how they make the chair more ergonomic and better for the user. I looked at various examples of chairs online and found the ideal shape for a comfortable experience. I also felt that the seat was too long, so I shortened it for my next model. I then started playing with the idea of a weighted base plate which would allow the chair to recline and keep its balance when doing so.
First Prototype
First Prototype
Ergonomic Sketch
Fold out Sketch
Second Prototype
Second Prototype
Weights & Base Sketch
Final Prototype
Reflection
What I believe went well about this process was the way the chair was able to fold down. The flat-pack nature of the chair makes storing it in small spaces much easier. It can be stacked more effectively as well, Ideal for use in a dining area. It also doesn’t compromise on comfort to achieve this as well.
What I wasn’t so pleased with was the overall look of my chair. I neglected the aesthetic aspect of the chair in favour of its function, instead of trying to find a good balance between both. With more time I feel like I could have refined the look and feel of the chair further, to achieve a more elegant look.
I was also disappointed with the complexity of my model and felt I could have spent more time trying to find a more creative way of having it fold out and collapse, whilst still sharing some of the similarities of the Tizio Lamp.
I felt the process of designing this has helped me in various aspect. I now realise the benefit of taking the time to create a prototype, and how it can help in planning the construction of your product, as well as visualizing it.
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