03
Furniture
The Project This Project was focused on designing and constructing a functional piece of furniture for the future CIA (Cleveland Institute of Art) campus. The design was to take into consideration the user, the purpose, ergonomics, materials, aesthetics and fabrication. We constructed our designs out of reclaimed lumber. We worked with APOC (A Piece of Cleveland), a Cleveland based organization which deconstructs old homes throughout the city and sells and uses the lumber for custom furniture projects. The final design was constructed out of reclaimed lumber from APOC.
03 research
My classmates and I focused on four specific areas of the school to design for including Smart Classrooms, Staff Offices, IME Studios and Public Spaces. We collectively conducted research for all four of these areas and referred back to our research throughout the design process. Smart Classrooms Needs:: group seating, chalk boards, lighting, TV and AV equipment, pin-up walls, storable furniture, collaborative space. Staff Offices Needs:: organization, alternative storage, maximal work space, personalized space, meeting space, privacy, modularity, use of vertical storage. IME Studios Needs:: Controlled lighting, collaborative space, personalized studios, convenient pin-up space, dry-erase boards, storage, adjustable drawing surface, flat file storage, critique space. Public Spaces Needs:: Seen from the street, “face� of the school, relaxed, fun area. 35//Wendy Birchfield
old meets new I collected many images for inspiration during the research phase. I was interested in combining old traditions of Shaker furniture with a new aesthetic. I researched traditional and contemporary furniture and tried to find a common ground between the two.
03 brainstorming Keeping in mind what I learned through research, and constantly referring back to my inspiration images, I did several thumbnail sketches as a way of quickly generating ideas before finalizing my concepts.
37//Wendy Birchfield
03 concepts 01
02
Public Spaces
Public Spaces Couch orientation
End tables
Magazine rack
Stiff fabric
Rigid material
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04
Public Spaces
Public Spaces
Aerial view
This is a large table for the atrium. All of the individual tables are painted different colors so that when it is pulled together it creates the illusion of a cube in perspective when looking at it from above.
05
These dividers are designed for the atrium. They break up space while the interesting patterns cast unique shadows on the floor.
01
Public Spaces
Staff Offices
Book shelf
Accordion storage Hanging light
Coffee table
39//Wendy Birchfield
02
03
Staff Offices
Staff Offices
Digital picture frames Privacy
This section swings out to create an “L” shaped desk Fold down meeting space
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05 01 02
Staff Offices Slotted space for shelves
Staff Offices IME studios IME studios
Rearrangeable shelves
Privacy curtain
Accordion hinge allows the user to make shelves as high /short as needed
Desk folds out of wall
06 03
The shelves fold out from the main unit
01 04
Staff Offices Staffstudios Offices IME
SmartClassrooms IME studios
Combines desk with storage unit
Storage Conference mode Adjustable drawing surface
Pin up space
These hanging chairs can be pulled off the wall when extra seating is needed. They fold up to create the chair seen in isometric perspective.
Creates “clothes line” to hang drawings
Boards sandwich together for minimal storage
Lecture/presentation mode Fabric is another option
Large Conference mode
03 concepts 02
03
SmartClassrooms
SmartClassrooms
Conference table
Folds for minimal storage
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Reversible legs
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SmartClassrooms
Underneath is pin-able surface to easily transform the classroom into a presentation room
SmartClassrooms
Traditional chair
More than one person
Individual use Privacy for test taking
Desks slides up to create a writing surface
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IME studios Lofted storage space
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IME studios
Individual lighting
Privacy curtain
Privacy option
Built-in outlet
41//Wendy Birchfield
Desk folds out of wall
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IME studios
IME studios
Break table
Flips up for dry-erase surface
Creates “clothes line� to hang drawings
Fabric is another option
Boards sandwich together for minimal storage
The concept I pursued as a final direction was a desk concept for the Integrated Media Studio spaces. The desk is a modern interpretation of a Shaker style writing desk. What I liked about this concept was the fact that it combines storage and a working surface.
03
IME studios Combines desk with storage unit
Adjustable drawing surface
Pin up space
03 refinement
43//Wendy Birchfield
final dimensions 11”
44.5”
20” 48”
28”
27”
54”
03 models//construction
Once I found a successful size and dimension for the desk, I constructed several models in order to double check the proportions. I then constructed a full scale model out of foam core.
45//Wendy Birchfield
Full-scale model
Because I used reclaimed lumber, it was very important to clean up the wood. After planing all of the wood, I then laminated the boards together to make panels to construct the desk.
03 function//final design
47//Wendy Birchfield
Reform The final design has a swing out brace which supports the writing surface of the desk. There is also a hole in the inside of the desk for students to run electrical cords through. The shelves of the desk are removable so that students may store large work inside if necessary. The overall form of the desk loosely reference a sawhorse indicating a notion of hard work.