My Furniture Design Process - Shaun Boyd Made This

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their unique design process, using a dining chair as an example. They explain how the initial idea evolves, from finding inspiration in everyday objects like folding chairs, to sketching the design by hand in a notebook. The creator emphasizes the importance of refining proportions, testing ideas through a plywood prototype, and finalizing the design with a solid wood version. Key steps include sketching, prototyping, and adjusting until everything feels just right. Their motto—'Design, Refine, Prototype, Get Hyped'—captures the essence of their approach to turning ideas into reality.

Takeaways

• 😀 Design processes vary widely, and each designer has their unique approach.
• 😀 The speaker’s design process starts with a conscious decision about what to make, not random inspiration.
• 😀 Inspiration can come from various sources, including buildings, architecture, nature, or even simple items like folding chairs.
• 😀 Once a basic idea is formed, the speaker refines the design through drawing, often using a notebook instead of digital tools.
• 😀 The speaker doesn’t rely on being good at drawing but focuses on sketching to explore ideas and variations.
• 😀 After sketching, full-scale drawings are made on a piece of MDF to establish proportions and dimensions.
• 😀 The speaker uses their own body measurements to adjust specific aspects, like the height of the backrest on the chair.
• 😀 The process involves a lot of refining, erasing, and adjusting to get the proportions just right.
• 😀 A template is cut out from the MDF once the design is finalized, which serves as the basis for further work.
• 😀 A plywood prototype is sometimes made to test the design, allowing for adjustments before moving on to the final materials, such as solid wood.

Q & A

What is the initial step in the design process as described in the video?

The first step in the design process is making a conscious decision about what to create, such as choosing to design a dining chair.

How does the designer find inspiration for their projects?

The designer looks for inspiration from various sources, including buildings, architecture, nature, and other furniture designs. For the dining chair, they found inspiration in folding chairs.

Why did the designer gravitate towards the folding chair for this project?

The designer was drawn to the folding chair because of its lines and thought it would be interesting to reinterpret simple furniture through the lens of fine furniture design.

What tool does the designer use to refine the design of the dining chair?

Instead of using computer software, the designer prefers to sketch their designs on paper, even though they are not very skilled at drawing. This allows them to experiment with different ideas.

How does the designer translate their sketches into a more detailed design?

After refining the design on paper, the designer transfers it onto a piece of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) to create a full-scale drawing, ensuring the proportions and dimensions are accurate.

What role does the designer's body play in determining measurements for the chair?

The designer uses their own body as a reference to determine the height of the backrest and other measurements, ensuring a comfortable and functional design.

What is the purpose of making a plywood prototype?

The plywood prototype allows the designer to test the design in 3D form and make adjustments to aspects such as seat angle and transitions between parts, ensuring the final product is just right.

Why does the designer sometimes opt to make a prototype before building the final version?

Prototyping helps the designer identify and resolve issues in the design early on, such as structural details and proportions, ensuring that the final piece meets their expectations.

What material was used for the final version of the chair?

The final version of the chair was made from walnut, after the designer was confident that the design would be successful based on the plywood prototype.

What catchphrase does the designer use to sum up their design process?

The designer uses the catchphrase 'Design, refine, prototype, get hyped' to describe their design process, which emphasizes the iterative nature of creating a piece.