So here we are, several months have passed since I made the Teanest, and the dust has well and truly settled. Life has been busy, but at least this period of time has allowed me to distance myself from the project giving me the prospective to be self critical about my baby, myself and my process.
With hindsight I can say the design process was a bit rushed and I could of made things better, in hindsight. The process was quite aesthetically and gut led, although not entirely. The process was energetic and of the school of thought of get it out there and get it done, rather the calm considered approach, not ideal but it delivered on time. The project was also more complicated than I thought with how three separate pieces all interrelated to one another. My biggest regret is that I didn’t make more models, nothing beats a physical model, but given constraints of lead time, time and cash, i just made the prototype. Do you think I’ve pulled it off?
Overall my concept has been well received, it fulfilled its brief of providing a place to sit, drink and talk, in a confined space. People also love the way it looks, so its aspirational too. The chairs are comfortable and fit neatly within the table.
There are however a number of problems
Stiffness of the sides: This for me is the biggest problem, the last minute substitution of materials is a factor, but also the small cross sectional area.
Resistance of the chairs to tipping: This due to the high centre of gravity, the chairs geometry and the radius at the bottom of the chair.
Manufacturing: A lot of material (3 Sheets of ply) and low yield form each sheet.
Weight: their dam heavy, but in kind of nice way.
Fit of the chairs: there needs to be a bigger gap between each piece
Seat height is a bit on the low side and for some a bit narrow.
Table height: The jury is out on this one, what do you think?
For
An interesting and unconventional height
Works well as a work surface and nice height to put things on, like the person who put a wine glass on it at my private view.
Provides a nice roof/cap for the chairs and brings the pieces together as a unit.
Against
An conventional height
Is there a danger of when objects are on the table they interfere with eye contact?
Too high to eat food off of or use a lap top. But shouldn’t you be just drinking and talking?
Should I really try to dictate what people should do with this furniture?
It also makes people who think the Measure of Man is a bible cry.
Problems are good, because it meens we can move forward.
Tomorrow I’m in the shop so the in depth evaluation and problem solving beings.
