Furniture Portfolio - Harry Booth

FURNITURE

PORTFOLIO HARRY BOOTH

FURNITURE PORTFOLIO EDUCATION Northumbria University BA (Hons) 3D Design: Furniture & Product CONTACT 07946232375 harryjbooth@hotmail.com instagram.com/_harrybooth harrybooth.tk

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01 WELSH CHAIR FINAL MAJOR PROJECT

This chair was an investigation into the possible application of metal as a medium to express a contemporary interpretation of the traditional forms and craftsmanship of Windsor chair design. I believed there was an opportunity to use these two contrasting materials to evoke this historic artisanship of a Windsor silhouette in a modern aesthetic.

The aims for this project were achieved through my understanding and application of traditional woodworking techniques combined with my experience of current methods of manufacturing. Design decisions throughout the development of my chair were subjected against a defined specification which purpose was to withhold the specific values and features of Windsor construction through

a rejuvenated approach to aesthetics. My chair gains its name and distinctive characteristics from primitive, three-legged Welsh stickback. With the use of tubular steel and the reduction in detail, I have been able to reimagine this unique leg construction, a tradition that has been recorded as far back as 1180. Utilizing tubular steel’s impressive strength to weight ratio, I designed a tripod style base that provides a platform to showcase a refined Windsor assembly with nods to the past through considered elements such as the turned spindles and the incorporation of exposed foxtail wedge joints.

To help provide a directed focus throughout my project I developed a design specification. These guidelines were related to the designs, tools, construction and materials I would be using to realize my final design. The reason for these parameters were to ensure that I produce a meaningful product that withholds the distinctive characteristics and values of Windsor chairs. It was important to me that these chairs take advantage of tubular steels properties but maintain a level of craftsmanship throughout the design.

My design specification was used to evaluate every stage of the design process, particularly the design development phase. To encourage the develop of potential designs, I took direct inspiration from the shapes and features of a variety of different Windsor

styles and reimagined them in a new context through the incorporation of tubular steel. I was able to produce a wide range of designs that displayed certain methods of applying the steel tubing into the construction.

Through evaluation, I determined that the use of a metal base as a replacement of the splayed/raked legs and stretchers provided an opportunity to modernise the chair style but also better display woodworking skills.

The design I chose to develop was based upon the distinct characteristics of primitive Welsh stickbacks. I believed the three-legged construction commonly adopted by these chairs could be effectively represented in a tripod style base. This would allow a better representation of the splay and rake of the legs and present my chair with a well-considered, unique appearance.

Once I had developed a proposed design, I needed to conduct research into wide range of materials and processes to help actualize my final working prototype. To do this, I executed a hands-on making and designing process. Rather than relying upon design software or developing numerous small-scale models, I immediately began working with materials and machinery to understand and develop my design. An important factor in this development stage was the use of an exisitning Windsor i purc. This resource allowed me to test my proposed metal construction and ergonomical factors. Through a trial and error process, I developed components in AutoCAD which then could be efficiently applied and evaluated on the test chair.

Through my hands-on approach to designing my chair, each element was considered using my design specification, thus ensuring that a modern chair was produced which also displayed elements of traditional artisanship. Many changes from my initial resolved design were made throughout the whole chair. Some were done to ensure integrity of design but some were completed to allow for improved durability, practicality and comfort. An important feature of my design

was the exposed wedge joint on the armrest, the third joint I had proposed was removed to provide an angle and fillet in the backrest so that it better fit the contours of the back. Also the step on the backrest was introduced so that the wedges could be adopted without the wood blowing out. I do not consider these changes failures as I believe they were made for the benefit of the overall design and help to further install a unique aesthetic into my chair.

The choice of wood for my chair was an important decision. In relation to my design specification, I was opposed to the use of composite materials as it would negate my aim to maintain craftsmanship through the design. This led me to adopt the use of certified British oak. I was happy with this choice as it was a variety of wood regularly used in the traditional construction of Windsor chairs and the grain perfectly complements the shapes and structure of my chair. I also powder coated the metal black because I believed it provided a more modern aesthetic.

OAK WITH SEMI-MATTE CLEAR POLYX- OIL

MATTE BLACK POWDERCOATED STAINLESS STEEL

02 PRESS STOOL

SELF-DIRECTED PROJECT

This Stool was a product of my personal exploration into the manipulation and fabrication of tubular steel as a means to produce a piece of furniture that presents an identified detail. This material exploration project was directed as preparation for my Final Major Project. Through research, testing and the production of my working prototype, I would be able to familiarize my with this material and gain a greater understanding how I may possibly introduce it into my aim to create a contemporized Windsor chair. Throughout this project external research and practical experimentation was conducted alongside communication with the technical workshop staff to help identify a potential avenue to explore which would then be the focus of

a piece of furniture’s construction. As a result of being introduced to the numerous tools and machinery of the metal workshop, I was particularly interested in the manipulation the fly press conducts onto to tubular steel. I determined that crimping the tubing using a press tool provided an interesting surface which could be further developed into a practical solution to my project. This detail consequently because the focal point of my design helped to offer a witty name.

Once that I had identified my desired manipulation of tubular steel, I had to then explore the possibilities in which to implement it within a design. I decided that this detail would be best suited for the fabrication of a stool.

Within my material exploration I investigated the possible use of threaded rivet nuts so that two pieces of metal could be combined to provide a possible flat-pack solution. However due to time constraints this element could not be implemented to provide a practical solution meaning welding would use to construct my stool. My objective for this self-directed project was to produce a piece of furniture which highlighted a identified feature effectively. To realize this effectively I

chose to develop stool of simple appearance so that the crimping of the steel would be the focal point of the design. The decision to employ a square shaped footrest ring was made for both aesthetical and practical reasons. This shape not only provided a subtle interesting appearance to the stool but also meant that the tubing could be welded against a large surface areas which therefore provided increased structure strength.

My initial exploration of pressing tubular steel to generate a preferred thickness and shape was conducted in hand vices and then the fly press. It was very soon after that I was introduced to the ‘press tool’. Hydraulic, mechanical press tools are used on a large scale product to conduct a variety of operations, however small scale press tools can be developed to perform accurate crimping and flattening functions on tubular metal. It was my task to develop one of my own. To manipulate the steel tubing for my stool legs, I constructed a solid hardwood assembly which would effectively lock the tubing in position through screwed on channelled caps

and allow it to be released once pressed.

I then fashioned a steel, male die so that it pressed a particular impression I believed to be most attractive. Each leg needed to be pressed through the same process so that a decided thickness was achieved, then it was pressed in the opposition direction to counteract any upward spring in the tubing.

This process was practiced many times and done carefully with regimented measurement checks in the final production so that an accurate full scale model was produced.

I believe the stool produced was a success towards to aims of my project direction. As a result of conducting this self-directed assignment, I was able to develop an interesting piece of furniture which practically implements a researched and developed manipulation of tubular steel. The pressed element is an attractive change from the simple fabrication of most other metal tubing stools. In addition, the larger contact area of the joined tubing allowed for an increased

welding length which increased the structural integrity. However, this project was not ‘isolated’, as it was planned in conjunction with my Final Major Project. This previous task was planned so that I develop a further understanding of metalwork, particularly tubular steel which I aimed to use in my upcoming project. Therefore, not only have I designed an attractive stool, I gained the appropriate skills to use tubular steel effectively onwards.

The Press Stool was an outcome of my material exploration into tubular steel; its principal focus was not of commercial viability.

Although anthropometrical data and market research was used effectively to formulate the resolved stool, the design was not further developed to accommodate for a particular market. Therefore, I left the steel unfinished to better showcase the crimp features rather than hide it away behind coloured powder coating paints. I also used Scots Pine softwood for the stool seat for a simple aesthetic. Danish oil was applied to bring out the colour and grain effectively.

UNFINISHED STAINLESS STEEL

SCOTTS PINE WITH DANISH OIL

03 CONCORDIA CHAIR LIVE COMPETITION BRIEF

The Concordia chair was produced in accordance to one of my final year modules which involved choosing a live competition brief to help provide a simulated experience of a fast paced design project. This was conducted to judge our creative abilities, organisational and time management skills.

In this module I chose to enter the annual Andreu World international design competition. For this project I was required to design and produce a 1:5 scale model of an innovative chair or table. This particular competition set conditions on what materials may be used and also provided a specification of what your proposed design should display/fulfil. These provided boundaries which encouraged a focused artistic develop-

ment and encouraged insight into possible focal points to achieve. The object I set myself was to emulate the product philosophy of Andreu World Furniture Company.

AAndreu World as furniture design company set themselves apart by their ethos and philosophy of design. The core of Andreu World is to maintain the same qualities of wood regardless of materials or technology. They find importance in finding an equilibrium with the latest technologies and the traditions of craftsmanship. Attempting to be faithful to the past but also build the future really resonated to me and inspired me to produce a design which finds the equilibrium between solid wood and formed plywood. One material helps to display the history and tradition of traditional woodworking whilst the other explores the modern possibilities of composite materials and how wood can be engineered to produce striking forms. To fulfil this object I began producing multiple sketches

of possible ways these two materials could be merged to create a coexisting design.

Although I believe that many of the sketches I produced was unable to strike the correct balance of traditional craftsmanship and modern aesthetics through the attractive and practical use of plywood, I deemed one design had the potential to affectively fulfil my aims. However, I did not fully understand how I may possibly produce this chair as a scale model. Using my initial idea as a starting point I sketched several orthographic representations before eventually producing multiple models.

Each model allows for a further understand of how to achieve my desired aesthetics.

I very much enjoyed this project because it allowed me to fully explore furniture design in small detailed models. This greater flexibility of designing permitted changes that could be made quickly but also presented a three dimensional form for better inspection and understanding of what needs to be improved. Another interesting factor of this project was the detail I could achieve in the small scale, particularly the production of plywood. To provide this composite materials in small scale I produced a specific mould which could be used to glue sheets of flexiply to create different thicknesses. This technique helped to produce my model to a very high standard.

One of the tasks for this project was to fully understand how the chair would be produced. It can be easy to simply produce an attractive model but it is important that each element of the design is thought through and practical. I aimed to produce this chair as a design that represents Andreu World’s design philosophy, not as a possible chair for practical manufacturability, but that didn’t mean that it could be practically produced. I assured each element had

been considered. The joints at each conjuncture of different materials was developed for high levels of structural integrity.

Throughout the chair a range of joinery was applied: dominoes to screws were balanced with traditional joints such as lap joints as well as mortice and tenons.

In the conditions of the competition a range of materials was provided which could be used within design proposals. They allow the use of plywood, veneer and other materials such as glass or plastic if necessary and validated. I believe my use of plywood is justified fully. So to fit to the brief, the plywood I would use is produced using Oak because it provides a greater grain profile and the solid wood elements would be Beech to allow a more contrasting different in tone of wood.

OAK WITH DANISH OIL

BEECH WITH DANISH OIL

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