sprinkle chair

fayetteville, ar

I am drawn to furniture design because of the ability to push the boundaries of traditional design to create new ways of interacting with materials. This project focused on the exploration of the fabrication and capabilities of resin as a piece of furniture. The process of creating this chair began with the experimentation of the strength of resin and researching and testing different materials and methods for making a casting mold. A significant amount of testing was done by casting multiple objects and materials into the resin that aren’t traditionally associated with furniture design. This material testing looked at how objects and materials could displace the amount of resin used and affect the structural capabilities and aesthetics of the resin. The unique properties of the resin allowed for the use of the sprinkles to create a unique aesthetic without compromising the structural integrity of the chair. A large part of the process was designing the form of the chair to be comfortable yet solid, and the semicircular, continuous form paired with the resin to create a modern and exceptionally strong chair.

Blue foam insulation board was CNC routed and assembled to create a casting mold. Using a clear casting epoxy resin and a slow hardener allowed for multiple deeper pours. After the resin in each pour had turned from a liquid to a gel state, another layer was poured. This meant that mild exotherm had peaked and fallen so that there wasn’t enough heat to melt the foam form and that the multiple pours were able to bond properly.

With this project I was able to put a new spin on something as traditional and simple as a chair. This design and fabrication process created a newfound excitement for design and a catalyst for the future of furniture design. I am excited to keep experimenting with similar projects that explore the game of feet and inches and the scale of human touch.