DESIGN NAME: Rollerback
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Armchair
INSPIRATION: This piece was inspired from a distaste in standard armchairs. Seats are the most intimate form of furniture that the user has the most interaction with. The static nature of many chairs does not allow the users to get comfortable once they are seated. By using cushions that rotate on the back, the user can adjust and get comfortable as they wish.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Rollerback Armchair is unique in the interaction it allows the user to have. Each of the cushions are attached to the back of the chair on rods that allow them to freely rotate, which lets the user spin them freely as they move in the chair. This allows for a comfortable and form fitting design that engages the user.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: The most important part of this design was to incorporate the user. Good design should interact with the person using it. The movement of the cushions that is allowed in this unique design lets the user get comfortable and adjust in the chair once seated.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in December 2019 in Santa Monica, CA, and finished in December 2020 in San Francisco, CA.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Furniture Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: This piece was crafted from walnut stock. Each piece was hand cut and joined using Festool's Domino joiner. The upholstery was all hand sewn in Chenille tweed fabric. Each cushion is mounted on a rod that goes through the entirety of the cushion and allows it to rotate while providing stability.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: 570 mm x 570 mm x 920 mm
TAGS: walnut, claro walnut, chair, armchair, tweed, chenille, upholstery, upholstered
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: The chair required a lot of background research as it was Timothy's first design incorporating upholstery. Deciding on density of foam and types of fabric were an important part of the process, while developing a prototype for the rotating cushions was the most time consuming development.
CHALLENGE: This piece required extensive planning to execute the upholstery correctly. The idea of having a freely spinning cushion with a rod mounted through them presented many problems and required a prolonged prototyping phase.
ADDED DATE: 2021-10-09 02:17:49
TEAM MEMBERS (1) :
IMAGE CREDITS: Photographer Alexis Valdovinos, 2020
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