DewDrop Chair
A folding chair so comfortable you will never want to store it away. But you can.
Process
The DewDrop Chair is modeled after the iconic Director’s Chair, using its tried and true folding mechanism. My goal was to take this existing design into a new piece of furniture that is more inviting and comfortable.
Initial Model
In this 1/4 scale MDF model, the structure of the chair has changed from straight lines to a continuous curve, creating a different seat profile that is much lower and wider. This initial model was crucial in understanding how the components of the chair would be joined together and seeing how the proportions of the chair contributed to the overall form as a concept.
Variations
Different proportions were tested to see the front profile of the chair, including the golden ratio curve, and a G2 curve.
The curve variations were made into full chairs in Fusion360 and the most cohesive design was fully modeled to join together and create a full-scale prototype of the design.
Prototype
The prototype was a great teacher. The proportions looked good in CAD, but in real-life testing, the seat felt too low and wide. The dowels stretching down the side keeping the legs together were sturdy, but they still let things wobble and a new material and attachment method should be developed for better support.
This moment where parts joined together was a detail I wanted to highlight. The final model of the chair will have thicker lines, bolder colors, and nicer edges to reemphasize the inviting and comfortable form.
Final Model
The final chair has everything learned from the prototype including stronger connections, more comfortable seat height, and better color choices.
Side by side the improvements are clear.
Assembly Process
Machining my own metal parts was the highlight of this project for me. I want more reasons to use the metal lathe moving forward and to keep learning new tools and how to implement them.
Assembling the final piece was the most time-consuming part of this project by far, but one of my favorites. Learning how to attach fabric to furniture securely is an entire project on its own. The sanding and finishing took several days to get up to my standards to be good enough to use on the final piece but it was worth every second.
