Digitally Bespoke by Art and Design at The University of Chester

D I G I T A L L Y B E S P O K E

T h om as

J ones

INTRODUCTION

Within furniture design, since the introduction of mass production and automated processing the market is losing touch with traditional methods of craft. Becoming more of a niche sector of bespoke design, furniture is not resonating with consumers how it used to. Looking into the impact of “digital craftsman” and how some traditional methods of production can collaborate with digitalised manufacturing to create a piece which “Offers a sense of consciousness” HABITO

What is “handmade”? - Individuality - Uniqueness - Imperfections - Hand process - Craftsmanship - High standard - Irregularity Machines don’t feel a reaction to what they are making. They simply do as they are told. Where as humans can continuously develop and make changes on their emotions and feelings towards the project. Every stroke, every gauge or every slice is marked by the maker. It’s a very personal and passionate process of dedication. (How to define handmade items | BigCommerce, 2020)

Craftsmanship? “A craftsman will use his hands where technology seems to strip away the personal attention. And he will use technology where hands can’t be precise enough” (Haider, 2020) - Highly skilled - Attention to detail - Should have a mark of quality - The touch of a human hand has made the difference. - Satisfaction of production - Niche market - Art form (Haider, 2020)

“Explore the human experience beyond visual and the cerebral: to explore it though our hands” Brendan Tang

What is a piece of bespoke furniture?

“Bespoke” is a product which is custom built for a consumer specific needs. The piece is a one-off production which is made for exactly where the consumer wants the product to be placed and how they want it to look aesthetically. It is a process of creating something unique which has been created around a specific consumers interest or requirements.

Benefits

- No limit to the size or taste of the product. For example, with mass production it is not efficient for a company to produce numerous sizes of a specific cabinet to suit all situations. There is much more of this sort of freedom for bespoke pieces. - Consumer control - Bespoke pieces are “built to last” with an attention to detail.

Consumer Reasoning

- Quality is more important to them than cost - Requirement of a product with unusual dimension and scale - Individuality is important to them - Having the ability to control the entire aesthetic of their piece is important (Walton, 2020)

Project Aim - To iteratively develop numerous techniques of adding decoration or texture to a number of materials. - With resources available decide on 3 to be able to consistently control and add value to the material. - Showcase each of the techniques collaborating on one piece of high-end furniture. - Develop and manufacture a piece of furniture which is free-standing and of a 1:1 scale. - Defining the connection between craft and digital craftsman within furniture design

Project Challenges - Having the patience and attention to detail to accurately produce the techniques of adding decoration/texture. - Some of the examples and inspiration for the project are of a tremendous quality and costing. So trying to innovate and replicate on a budget will be a challenge. - Structuring my time between conceptualization, large amount of experimentation and the final production.

Where does craft sit in a world where digitized production is becoming more sophisticated?

Project Experimentation

The development of texture and ways of adding value to material using both digital and hand-crafted techniques. All the contrasting methods were driven by visual inspiration.

Craft Power Carving - “Mountainous” Experimenting with using an angle grinder to carve into hardwood-based plywood. By penetrating the top layer, it exposes the layers of material beneath, creating a mountainous aesthetic.

Craft Power Carving - “Liquid” This manufacturing technique is exploring the art of craft. With the irregularities and inconsistencies throughout the texture it really displays the “mark of the maker”.

Craft Power Carving - “Scales” With consistency still driving the texture, experimenting with trying to replicate a “gouged” finish whilst using power tools shown a lot of potential.

Craft Power Carving - “Fortify” With already experimenting with the freedom of the manufacturing method next was trying to keep consistency. By trying to keep the texture under control and to replicate what a CNC could produce really illustrated the character there was in the outcome.

Digital Laser Cut Plywood - “Medusa” Trying to capture the feeling of the “mark by the maker” whilst using digital manufacturing drove this texture. By hand drawing the decorative design there was a sign of emotion.

Digital Laser Cut Plywood -“Honeycomb” Working to the capabilities of the CNC machine and using the burn marks left to the materials advantage. The lighter wood grain contrasts the dark burn to offer extra depth and dimension.

Digital Laser Cut Plywood - “Floral” Being inspired by the intricacies of middle eastern furniture design this texture was produced. The digital design captures an impressive amount of detail and is starting to bring the feeling of craft back into the design.

Digital Laser Cut Plywood - “Geometric” Lighting being a main influence, the idea of exposing the interior by leaving small windows to offer light the opportunity to pass through. This also adds depth to the textures layering.

Craft Gouging - “Pisces” This method of applying texture offers an authentic feel. The shadows and edge reflections from the material make the piece visually different from all angles. Capturing the irregularities and inconsistencies of craft.

Craft Dremel Texture - “Jackfruit” Using a variety of remel attachments to hand produce consistent textures. This method really adds value to the material and introducing contrasting lines through the patterns shows control and attention to detail.

Craft Marquetry - “Deception” The piecing together of different veneer species to offer a sense of illusion. The precision of consistently hand cutting and laminating panels together relies on the grain patterns to create the deception.

Craft Gouging - “Bark” Using a much finer hand tool to add value to recycled hard wood. A much more time consuming way of detailing which uses shadows and reflections to reveal the marks into the material.

Digital 3D Printing - “Ripple” Using wood-based PLA filament allows printed objects to be sanded and finished as if they were produced from natural woods. Using this dynamic as a collaborative technique to complement a crafted object was the next step.

Digital 3D Printing - “Ripple” A failed print used as future inspiration. The “Ripple” being built from geometric supports was an inspiring texture. Layering the contrasting patterns was transferable to other experiments.

Craft Clay Modelling - “Anemone“ A hand sculpted experiment using air drying clay to try and replicate a “Jewel” like aesthetic. Inspired by a floral theme scaled layers were used to represent the central flower head.

Craft Clay Modelling - “Hibiscus” A second attempt of clay modelling where the aim was to add more of a virtual feel. Adding extra curvature in the petals and flower head gave a completely different aesthetic.

Craft Resin Casting - “Arrangement” Drying freshly picked flowers in silica gel to then submerge in eco-resin gave a crystal-clear aesthetic. The flowers have been frozen in time and preserved their natural colours.

Craft Resin Casting - “Jewel” A second casting experiment using a semi sphere to replicate a gemstone. This was using a dandelion which was more a neutral colour which would be easier to keep a consistent theme.

Project Sketching Throughout the experimentation phase there was ongoing development of ideation. Using the textures produced with the addition of both craftsmanship and digital manufacturing to drive the aesthetic of furniture design.

Handle follows theme

Lighting

Mirrored interior

Wrap around legs

concertina door

“Z” inspired leg support

Marquetry diamond pattern

Flexiable plywood

Bottom shelf

Aluminum leg covers

Retracting doors

Geometric pattern

Glass rack

Display section

Bottle shelf

Drawer Spotlight

“Crazy Paving” marquetry

Leg support beam

FRONT ELEVATION

Product Concept 01 The first developed concept was using the “Medusa” experiment. The texture would be layered up with birch plywood which had been stained in an assortment of shades to add depth. The deeper into the crevice the darker the tone of wood. The shell of the cabinet is very simplistic “framing” the detailing illustrated on the doors and making them the centre of attention for this piece. Inspired by the power carving experiments crafted using hand skills, this contrasting piece is a digitised version. Showing the capabilities of digital manufacturing processes.

3D Elevation 30

FRONT ELEVATION

Product Concept 02 The second product concept is a design which is driven by the form of the texture. Using the “Honeycomb” experiment developed earlier in the project this cabinet keeps a consistent theme. The unique leg arrangement, inspired by a tripod aesthetic, would offer great strength and integrity for the hexagonal shell. As-well as being motivated by the texture experiments this piece is retro inspired.

3D ELEVATION 32

Product Concept 03 This product concept was utilizing the “Ripple” experiment. Creating many different uses for the texture inspired the creation of a console table design. The doors would involve a ripple effect with three separate droplets, all combining to create a unique front panel. Contrasting the light-coloured doors would be a contrasting darker stained shell to really highlight the detailing.

FRONT ELEVATION

3D ELEVATION

Middle Eastern Furniture Dating back to the 18th and early 19th century this furniture is regarded as “antique”. Illustrating tremendous levels of craftsmanship skill these items would take an extensive amount of time to produce. The patterns and illustrations used throughout middle eastern furniture is inspired by culture in middle eastern homes. Inspiration is often taken from mosques and other religious items to create matching fabrics to correspond with the furniture form (Behance, 2020). The attention to detail is outstanding, with such intricacies they are pieces of art. Due to the time frame these pieces were produced there were no digital manufacturing processes available.

What would a modernised version look like?

Concept Development Using the “Medusa” concept and research into middle eastern furniture the “Floral” concept was produced. Using the same manufacturing method of laser cutting plywood to create a layering effect but inspired by a middle eastern blossom style. - How could the design incorporate craftsmanship? - Does the layering replicate the middle eastern style? - Which materials would be appropriate?

“FLORAL”

Inspired by middle eastern furniture, the detailing illustrated on the doors is created using laser grade plywood on a laser cutting machine. Layering up five individually crafted panels creates much more depth and shadowing. The piece has intricate openings which allow the light from the interior to penetrate through.

The interior is a drinks cabinet design housing a mirrored back panel and contrasting veneered walls. The inside will be lit with warm spotlights to allow light to pass through the exterior door panels.

The shell of the cabinet is to be produced from quarter cut pine with each panel being cut at a 45-degree angle offering a seamless joint. The interior edge will then be chamfered at 30 degrees to replicate a picture frame inspired aesthetic.

Each door consists of six individual “Jewel” sections which are going to present hand crafted detailing, adding value, passion and meaning into the product.

“FLORAL”

3D ELEVATION 42

Final Product Overview This project combines digital manufacturing with the authenticity of hand-crafted componentry in order to capture the “mark of the maker”. This enables the product to be replicated in batch quantities whilst maintaining a specific uniqueness to each piece. Supplying the owner with a piece of bespoke furniture utilizing the capabilities of digital design to achieve high levels of accuracy and consistency, but complemented with the irregularities, passion and uniqueness of craftsmanship.

Decorative Floral Doors Middle eastern inspired panels created using laser cut birch plywood. The burn of the laser reacting with the light grain on the wood offers extra depth and dimension to the layering of material. Dandelion Jewel Each door features six jewels crafted using a semi sphere silicon mould to house a fresh dandelion. Each flower is unique and frozen in position using eco-resin. The jewels are precious and allow the light from the interior to penetrate through, highlighting the tremendous detail. Tapered Legs The hand-crafted legs have a seven degree taper and are angled at five degrees to add a unique stance. Not only does the angle offer extra stability to the heavy oak casing it makes the cabinet more life-like and more of a stand-alone piece. Interior The inside of the cabinet houses a drinks cabinet arrangement. This is partially visible from the exterior due to the reflections given from the mirrored back panel. Complementing the glass reflections is a warm light strip. 44

TOP ELEVATION

Technical Drawing An accurate to scale final design illustration to show relevant dimensions. Used to manufacture and produce a 1:1 scale product for the final artefact.

DOOR ELEVATIONS The doors of the “Floral” cabinet are built up of five separate layers of laser grade plywood. Due to the manufacturing process of laser cutting a burn mark is left on the cutting edge of the material. This leaves a contrasting colour to the light birch plywood giving this depth effect. Complementing the digital manufacturing is a set of twelve hand crafted “Jewels” created using resin casting fresh flowers to preserve their natural aesthetic.

FRONT ELEVATION 46

Final Artefact Using the technical drawing of “Floral” the final artefact was manufactured. Utilising available facilities and tooling a 1:1 scaled product was produced.

What Next? Following the design task of defining the connection between craft and digital craftsman a product range could be developed. From home-ware products such as coasters to furniture creation like bed side cabinets, the possibilities are endless with the correct facilities. Creating all designs using the digital capabilities of a laser cutting machine complemented with a craft element would keep a consistent theme and story behind the brand. Product development and creation would be documented over social media platforms and sold on sites such as Etsy.

“A craftsman will use his hands where technology seems to strip away the personal attention. And he will use technology where hands can’t be precise enough” (Haider, 2020)

“A sense of consciousness from each product” (Habito, 2020)

“It’s a really powerful thing to know you can make something, to know that it is a capacity that you have. To look at wool, wood, ceramics, metal, plastic and think, “Yeah I can do something with that.” (Celia Pym, 2020)

Bibliography

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