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Different ways to construct furniture with Fabric
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Designing a simple way to construct furniture with fabric When designing furniture made out of fabric, it turns into unexpected shapes. Also, it can express the characters of both solids and sheets.
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Contents Introduction
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Primary research _Fabric
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About fabric Field trip
Fabric Furniture
- Material ConneXion in New York - Jomar Textile. Co
Interview - Jaime Salm, MIO Design Co. - Mi-Kyong Lee, Professor in Textiles at UArts - Michael Grothusen, Professor in Sculpture at UArts
Secondary research Case study Literature Review
Practical research Test
Further Plan Project statement Concept sketch Plan
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Introduction
The University of the Arts Industrial Design Capstone Project 2015 Copyright © 2014 by blurb Published by Blurb, New York, New York www.blurb.com site : www.sominabaek.com
There is a beautiful aesthetic when one thin sheet, in two dimensions, turns into a 3D perspectival shape. It could be from a flexible out-line or from an unexpected material. We were used to playing with this kind of work when we were kids. We called it “origami”. Through the origami paper-folding activity, we might feel a sense of achievement, as if creating something from nothing. My thesis starts from a similar idea. Thin and delicate fabric sheets are changed into useful objects; that is furniture. I suggest designing a simple way to construct furniture with only fabric. Also, this process aims to be eco-friendly .
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Primary research
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Natural
History of Fabric
~30,000+ BC
Hind
30,000+ BC
Flax
Flax (by scientifical name Linum usitatissimum) is a member of the Linaceae plant
3,000+ BC
Man made
1910
Rayon
1924
Acetate
1939
Nylon
1950
Acrylic
1953
Polyester
1954
Triacetate
1959
Spandex
1961
Polyolefin/ Polypropylene
1989
Micro Fiber/ Microdenier
1993
Lyocell
cotton
family. The last word of its Latin name means “most useful” and tell us how important this plant was to ancient people. Recent discoveries in the Republic of Georgia show
3,000+ BC
wool
that the flax plant and its products were already used by humans from about 30,000 B.C. Middle East countries were origins of the flax plant and linen fabric – flax crops flourished there and skillful artisans turned them into ropes, fabric – and then – to other products. Nowadays flax is a popular plant to grow worldwide.
2,600+ BC
silk
Type of Fabrics
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Man Made
From Nature
Organic
cotton
plant
animal
linen
wool
Inorganic
silkworm
silk
For over five thousand years, the following four fibers – along with animal skins and a few woven grasses – were the only materials available for the manufacture of clothing. Depending on how they were processed, the resulting fabrics could be rough or smooth, colorful or drab. The more money you had to spend, the finer and more colorful your clothing would be.
Today, by mixing different components, manufacturers can take the basic fibers listed on the following page and make them more waterproof or more absorbent, warmer or cooler, thicker or thinner, stiffer or more supple. Some, like polyester and spandex, combine well with natural fibers, making fabrics that wrinkle less or are more formfitting.
By transformation of natural polymers
From synthetic polymers
Acetate
Acrylic
Alginate
Aramid
Cupro
Chlorofibre
Elastodiene
Elastane
Lyocell
Elastodiene
Modal
Fluorofibre
Triacetate
Modacylic
Viscose
Polyamide Polyester Polyethylene Polyimide Polypropylene
From Nature
Natural /Strong / Affordable
Field Trip_Material Connexion Material ConneXion is made up of an international team of multidisciplinary experts that bridge the gap between science and design to create practical manufacturing solutions.
Reasonable Cost
Natural
Material ConneXion’s team includes Ph.D. material scientists and material specialists with cross industry work experience at Fortune 500s and national laboratories:
Material ConneXion 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor New York, New York 10020 Phone: 212-842-2050 Fax: 212-842-1090 E-mail: info@materialconnexion.com Hours: 9:00am to 6:00pm, Mon. - Fri.
Strong
Sample order
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Natural/ Thick
Natural/ Thin
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Analyzing types of Fabric after visiting Jomar Textile company, analyzing fabric’s feature by hand.
Field Trip_ Jomar Textile.Inc Way back in the 1960’s, Barry and Richard Segal, two brothers from West Philly with retail in their veins, rented an artsy little building in South Philadelphia and started Jomar Hosiery, Inc. Jomar Textile. Inc 22 East Jackson Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 Phone : 215-339-5802 Hours : Mon-Sat 10-9, Sun 11-6 http://www.jomarstores.com
Interview
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Could you explain about how this 3D-paper wall is produced?
My senior project is using flexible sheets such as paper or fabric to make
“ We use 100% recycled paper, but we don’t collect paper ourselves.
furniture, and I’m trying to come up with how to make flexible sheets turn
There is a pulp manufacture company connected with us. So, when we
into solid objects. Could you give me some suggestions?
design new styles of wall tiles, we ask to make a new mold and they pro-
“ There are some ways. I suggest to use Polyacryl or Resin to get
duce new wall tiles made out of paper they collected.”
some hardness of fabric, you’d better test a lot . Also I suggest some places that can help you, which are the Moss Museum and Material Con-
How did you start this business, which is mainly made out of paper?
neXion in New York.
“ It was my senior thesis and after graduated, I developed this idea
The Moss Museum specializes in more unique and challenging types of
into a business.”
furniture and Material ConneXion has various materials from throughout the world, so you could get some ideas from them.”
Jaime Salm MIO design founder and president
What material do you use in order to attach the 3D-paper wall tiles to the wall? “ This is up to the customer. Even though my first idea was using starch glue to be more eco-friendly, we just deliver these paper tiles and the customer can do as they want.” How about damage? Do you use laminate on these paper tiles? “ No. Laminated paper is hard to recycle. That is not our company’s principle. If the customer wanted to reduce damage on a wall paper, they usually paint on it.” Advice “There are numerous products which are made of paper in the market already. So, if you want to develop this project, you should find a more special reason. Why do you want to use paper? When would it be used? How? By who?”
Mi-Kyong Lee Fibers Coordinator Associate Professor MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art MFA, The University of the Arts
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From these interviews... My senior project is using flexible sheets of fabric to construct furniture, and I’m trying to come up with how to make flexible sheets turn into solid
More specific and reasonable ideas
objects. Could you give me some suggestions? “Well... it could be different depending on what you want to make. If
Set the specific user/ place/ reason
you try to make your object so it can support a human’s weight, such as a chair or a table, you should use resins. There are dozens of resins, so you’d better check by calling or visiting a resin company.
Test a lot for material research - Resin/ Poly acrylic/ Plaster/ Starch Glue
I suggest this site, which is ‘Smooth-on. Inc.’ They have a bunch of resins, and especially those classified as rubber kind or plastic kind. I recommend the 327 Resin. It is the hardest one among their products.
Michael Grothusen Sculpture Coordinator Associate Professor MFA, Tyler School of Art BFA, University of Kansas
I recommend that you get a sample first rather than getting a full size of it since it is expensive. For the plaster, Ultracal Plaster is the hardest one among other plasters. Also you can check the book ‘Living Material Hand Book.’”
References for Material ConneXion and the Moss Museum
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Secondary research
Case Study
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Design by Marcel Wanders, 1996
The Knotted Chair Made in Italy by Cappellini Carbon, aramide fiber, cold epoxy
This lightweight chair combines industrial techniques and handcrafting. A thread constructed of aramid and carbon fiber, is knotted into the shape of a chair and then impregnated with epoxy resin and hung in a frame to dry, leaving the final from in the hands of gravity. The knotted Chair was a result of Droog’s 1996 Dry Tech I project.
Epoxy resin : This could be the solution to make harder out of flexible sheets. Epoxy is both the basic component and the cured end product of epoxy resins, as well as a colloquial name for the epoxide functional group. Epoxy resins, also known as polyepoxides are a class of reactive prepolymers and polymers which contain epoxide groups. Epoxy resins may be reacted (cross-linked) either with themselves through catalytic homopolymerisation, or with a wide range of co-reactants including polyfunctional amines, acids (and acid anhydrides), phenols, alcohols, and thiols. These
co-reactants are often referred to as hardeners or cu-
ratives, and the cross-linking reaction is commonly referred to as curing. Reaction of polyepoxides with themselves or with polyfunctional hardeners forms a thermosetting polymer, often with strong mechanical properties as well as high temperature and chemical resistance. Epoxy has a wide range of applications, including metal coatings, use in electronics / electrical components, high tension electrical insulators, fiber-reinforced plastic materials, and structural adhesives.
Case Study
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Design by Anthony Kleinepier
Moooi Dickies Chair
With the Dickies, Anthony likes to raise more questions than answers so the expectations and codes of our daily environment become vague. This makes people wake up to the fact that they are entitled to an interpretation of their own. I think it is time again to use all our senses and not only believe in what we see. With Dickies, Anthony Kleinepier likes to raise more questions than answers, so the expectations and codes of one’s daily environment become vague. This makes people wake up to the fact that the are entitled to an interpretation of their own. Use all of your senses to fully experience this comfortable, deconstructed, anything-goes seating element.
Made in Netherlands Polypropylene laminated with polyester and nylon, styro-foam filling
Polypropylene laminated with polyester and nylon, styro-foam filling: This chair’s way to make cover, sewing with thick fabrics could be good material before to be harden as a frame.
Case Study
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Design by Tobias Juretzek
Rememberme Made in Germany Recycled clothes, resin
Rememberme addresses current social issues about sustainability. our society, along with other global societies, has a tendency towards forgetfulness. when a new, cool trend comes out – whatever it may be – we forget about what we already own and consume that brand new thing. Tobais uses all kinds of recycled clothes – jeans, t-shirts, jackets – even articles from his own closet in his art furniture.
the process begins with
soaking each item in resin,
compressing them into a mold to dry. the end product can support the weight of an average adult, which is extremely impressive when you realize you’re sitting and then
on clothing.
Case Study
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Design by Tejo Remy 1991
RAG CHAIR Made in Germany Rags, metal strip
His chair is layered from the contents of 15 bags of rags. It arrives ready made but the user has the option to recycle its own discarded clothes to be included in the design. Each piece is unique; a treasure-chest of memories. The Rag Chair is serious about recycling. Layered from the contents of 15 bags of rags, the Rag Chair reuses clothes that would otherwise be thrown out. The Rag Chair arrives ready made, no assembly required. Metal strapping is used to anchor the rags in the shape of a chair. Each Rag Chair is unique with the fabric prints and colors used. The Rag Chair is included in museum collections at Centraal Museum (Utrecht, The Netherlands), Indianapolis Museum (Indianapolis, USA), National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne, Australia), Audax Textiel Museum (Tilburg, The Netherlands), Neue Pinakothek Die Neue Sammlung - The International Design Museum (Munich, Germany), and Vitra Design Museum (Weil am Rhein, Germany).
Piled up recycled clothes and tied up using metal strip.
Case Study
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Living Tower Design by Verner Panton,1969/ 1970
Living Tower/ Loreley Ship on the Rhine River Made in Denmark Birchwood frame, polyurethane foam upholstery
Residential sceneries were Verner of Panton’s favorite subject. His Living Tower, for the first time as a Phantasy Landscape on the Visiona2 in completion presented, uses the three dimensions of space. The organically formed sculpture made from two compound elements can be used at four levels. All seat possibilities are formed ergonomically and thereby are exceedingly comfortable. Besides, the arrangement of the single surfaces promotes the communication. Verner Panton had a horror to be caught in one seat position the whole evening. Living Tower offers the perfect freeing from this compulsion. The seat object sprinkled all convention chains when Verner Panton gave it to the world in the end of the 60s. Once thought up Verner Panton used it with many spatial arrangements.
Loreley Ship on the Rhine River
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Verner Panton experimented with designing entire environments: radical and psychedelic interiors that were an ensemble of his curved furniture, wall upholstering, textiles and lighting. He is best known for the design of a German boats interior, now a famous museum. He is also known for a hotel in Europe that utilized circular patterns and cylindrical furniture.
Piled up recycled clothes and tied up using metal strip.
Case Study
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Design by Gaetano Pesce,1986
Feltri Chair Made in Italy Wool felt and polyester resin
On the subject of his work, Pesce recently said: “For the past 30 years, I have been trying to give architecture back its capacity to be ‘useful’, by quoting recognizable, figurative images commonly associated with street life and popular culture, and by generating new typologies. I strive to seek new materials that fit into the logic of construction, while performing services appropriate to real needs. Architecture of the recent past has mostly produced cold, anonymous, monolithic, antiseptic, standardized results that are uninspiring. I have tried to communicate feelings of surprise, discovery, optimism, stimulation and originality”. IHigh armchair and low armchair entirely made of thick wool felt. In the lower part, the felt is impregnated with thermosetting resin to guarantee stiffness and resistance. The seat is fixed to the supporting frame by means of hempen strings, which trim also the soft upper edge of the chair. The armchair is completed by mattress in quilted fabric, sewn together with the polyester padding, available in various colours. Product group: Seating Break-out / Privacy areas Lounge area / Waiting room Armchairs Lounge chairs Privacy furniture with armrests with armrests with seat and backrest upholstered with seat and backrest upholstered with seat in felt with seat in felt with base in felt with base in felt Designer: Gaetano Pesce
Piled up recycled clothes and tied up using metal strip.
Literature Review
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The purchasing habits of the North American consumer requires the extraction on our planets’ resources only to replace them with processed goods in the form of discarded merchandise. This geological cross section shows the new and improved layers of the Earth. Through our ever expending and multiplying landfill sites these new layers will provide us with a planet rich in synthetic nutrients and chemically enhanced goodness.
MATTER Vol. 93
Like other projects in Charzewski’s portfolio this project references the Earth and the human presence on it. The speed at which we mass-produce, massconsume and then reproduce goods and materials is questionable to our survival. Perceived obsolescence is a design strategy that inspires consumers to replace their perfectly good belongings with new items. This attitude towards consumerism is what this exhibition encapsulates. In reality these layers are made of compressed sand, soil and rock, which posses their own geological data. The layers in this installation project consists of a variety of clothing to create a more immediate version of time and human history. March 14–April 25 , 2009 in Pari Nadimi Gallery
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Practical Research
Hardener Test 1. Plaster 43
2. Resin (Eco-Resin) 3. Wood Glue (Elmer’s Glue)
5ea Wooden piece: for 3D shape
2ea Panel
4. Rice Starch
5ea Thick fabric: industrial felt
5ea Thin fabric: cotton
5. Tapioca Starch * Test hours: 7:00 PM- 8:00 AM * Apply to two different fabrics, thin and thick : researching which one more easily hardens. Black-Thick/ Sky Blue-Thin
Recipe for Rice Starch
Recipe for Tapioca Starch
1. Mix rice starch well and allow the mixture to stand for 20 minutes before cooking.
1. Pour water into the sauce pan and bring the water to a boil. 2- Water/ 1- Tapioca starch
2. Cook on medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a clean nonmetallic utensil.
2. Combine equal parts tapioca starch and room temperature water in a bowl.
3. When the paste begins to thicken (this may not happen right away), reduce heat and continue stirring. As it thickens, the paste will become stiffer and more difficult to stir.
3. Stir the mixture together until the starch and water form a smooth, even mixture. The mixture will be liquid, not gluelike, and slightly milky in color.
4. Stir until the paste is thick and translucent. It usually takes about half an hour to reach this stage.
4. Put the mixture into microwave.
5. Remove from the heat and continue stirring for the first few minutes of cooling.
1ea Wood glue: hardener
1ea Rice starch: hardener
1ea Mixing cup:
1ea Tapioca starch: hardener
1ea Resin: hardener
Tools 3ea Stick: 4ea Brush
waiting until dried...
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1st covering During waiting those to be dried enough, it was hard to fix them into shape. That is why I put some stuffs next each objects.
after 8 hours only Plaster and Wood glue can be recovered. Rest of them did not dried yet.
2nd covering
Result : Plaster
Opaque white color, low cost, easy to cover fabric and shape > Fastest drying. Made plaster dust. Not enough hardness.
Eco-Resin
Clear color, easy to make, requires special workspace, expensive, hard to shape. > Slow drying, not enough hardness.
Wood Glue
Opaque white color, limited fabric absorption, easy to cover, expensive but cheaper than resin. > Second fastest drying. After drying it was crushed, not enough hardness.
Rice Starch
Translucent, requires stove to heat, easy to cover. > Not enough hardness.
Tapioca Starch Opaque white color, very tricky to make, low cost, quick drying. > Not enough hardness.
RICE STARCH
color: Translucent time: more than 12 hours absorb: easily absorbed hardness: ++
WOOD GLUE
color: Opaque Yellowish color time: more than 18 hours absorb: rarely absorbed hardness: +++
PLASTER
color: Opaque white color time: more than 12 hours absorb: rarely absorbed hardness: +++
TAPIOCA STARCH
color: Opaque white color time: more than 8 hours absorb: rarely absorbed hardness: +
Analysis Resin is hardest one., but should be dried in door and warm temperature. Plaster and Wood glue have similar hardness, medium harder, but Plaster is crushable , Wood glue has yellowish color. Rice and Tapioca starches have a weak hardness. Also, hard to make both of them.
RESIN
Result
color: Clear color time: more than 12 hours absorb: rarely absorbed hardness: +++++
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From the test... Find stronger and eco-friendly resin. Use Ultracal Plaster instead of regular plaster. Cold weather might influence results - work indoors. More layers with more time to dry. Try Elmer’s Glue
Further Plan
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Concept Sketch
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Concept Sketch
Project Statement
Bibliography
“Designing new ways to construct furniture with only fabric.�
http://www.trailend.org/edpdf-fcfabrichistory.pdf http://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/man-made-synthetic-fibers/ http://www.materialconnexion.com http://www.jomarstores.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxy http://www.droog.com/webshop/products/knotted-chair/ http://www.moooi.com/products/dickie http://www.mrkate.com/2011/08/06/artist-spotlight-tobais-juretzek-furniturefrom-clothes/ http://www.droog.com/webshop/furniture/rag-chair/ http://blog.verner-panton.de/en/moebel/living-tower/ http://www.dwr.com/category/designers/m-p/gaetano-pesce.do http://parinadimigallery.com/Site/index.php/exhibitions/show/jarod_charzewski/
Different ways to construct furniture with Fabric
We called it “origami�. Through the origami paperfolding activity, we might feel a sense of achievement as if creating something from nothing. My thesis starts from a similar idea. Thin and delicate fabric sheets are changed to useful objects; that is furniture. I suggest designing a simple way to construct furniture with only fabric. Also, this process aims to be ecofriendly.