The Design of the Chair and the Nice Rocker Function - Assignment Example

Exploration of a Chair of the Object This chair is one of a matching pair of rocker/recliners. I did not have much furniture when I rented my apartment, so I went online looking for bargains and someone nearby was offering two recliners free. The room was too small for a couch, but large enough for two chairs. Each chair is 42 inches wide across the back, 38 inches high when not reclined and 32 inches from the back of the base to the front on the bottom, but even when upright the chair back extends about a foot back. The seat is 19 inches high from the floor with the folded down footrest about an inch off the surface. Each of the puffy curved arms is 14 inches from outside seam to inside and the seat is 22 inches between the arms with the back extending up 29 inches. So it is large and a little squat looking with the total width including the seat and the two arms being 48 inches, making it wider than it is tall, even considering that part of each arm is curved, meaning that it truly only 45 inches measured across the seat from the outside of one arm to the outside of the other. The other three inches is puffiness of the arms. These chairs barely came through the apartment door with two people turning them on an odd angle and pushing them through while turning the frame. Design: Aesthetic and Functional Engineering The chairs are light tan covered in microfiber that resembles fine Italian suede. The seat is divided into squares and overstuffed as is the whole chair. Everything is rounded. There are no square corners of sharpness of any kind on tis chair until you look at the little flat metal feet. The feet actually do not look large enough to keep the chair upright. The covering is clean mostly, except on its rounded corners. There are tiny little needle-like punctures on the bottom of one side of each chair where a tiny chocolate point Siamese loved it. And a slight tear in the fabric gotten during moving on the left side back corner, right on the 1” by 4” wooden framing piece, has been super glued together and is almost invisible. The wood underneath is a solid cut piece of light colored medium soft wood. There is a ofoam covering over the wood even on the back, and steel strips on the wood corners under the foam The wood across the back is a solid piece or well fitted matched planks, probably about ¼ ‘ thickness from the sound it gives to a knock. The texture of the fabric covering looks like fine suede and feels like a baby’s bottom. It has little tiny wrinkles in it like skin and a subtle pattern that also looks like skin. Each of the arms has ample storage under the top, which flips to the side to reveal a 14” by 6” by 7’ rectangular space with a removable covered cup holder encased in a 7”by 7” square covered in the upholstery fabric. The indentation can hold a large tumbler or mug, but its too deep for any of my current mugs, as the handles make them list dangerously. I have seen the neighbor that gave these to me since then and he said his expensive new ones were no match for the old. I told him I may never give up these chairs. The frame is wood and steel and it is not a name brand. I had to fix the space between the seat cushion and the arm, because there were pointy tacks that scratched my hand. I capped them with soft plastic buttons from a bookcase. The buttons are red, but nobody can see them, so it does not matter. The feet are made from thick sheet metal, heat molded and attached to the frames covered in felt to protect the floor. The inside workings are simple but so balanced it is clear why these chairs never tip over. Underneath they are plain, but the fabric is strong, not quite canvas, but more than just upholstering fabric, almost heavy drape backing or awning material, but not rough to the touch. The seams of the fabric are well done, machines with precision and invisible within the bulk of the puffy stuffing. A nicely carved lever on the right side lifts the foot cushion, and pushing on the rear of the arms reclines the back almost level with the floor. And these chairs never threaten to tip over. What is amazing about these chairs is their comfort and balance. They rock nicely and recline smoothly as if the functional design took a lot of thought and consideration was made for people of all sizes. The storage makes them perfect for watching big screen movies, playing games or just reading and listening to music. They also promote relaxation and sleep, making them something to avoid during study time and enjoy once the work is done. POE Category The chair is both a decorative and functional art. The light tan color makes it easy to fit into any décor, while the texture invites touch. The rounded gently overstuffed style allows it to be mixed with almost any pother style of furnishings. In a room of Danish Modern or shiny tech they would be the foal point. The two chairs fill a small space nicely without crowding it, and could as easily occupy space in front of a blazing fireplace. The fabric is cool in summer, but never gets cold in winter. The contours invite guests to sit. The look of these chairs sings of family. This chair would have been “Father’s chair” in the 70’s and Ads on the net for Lazyboy recliners come to mind. That is this kind of chair. Tactics and Strategies These chairs probably are not expensive enough nor elegant in look enough for a family that has everything, but they would certainly be appreciated by most middle class families. They are very western in look, and oddly sensuous. The texture of the fabric and the color and comfort might be someone’s arms holding the occupant gently caressing his or her skin. I have never tried sitting in this chair in the buff, but it seems attractive. This would be a great “man-cave” chair., or a quiet romantic nook for coffee or wine and conversation to soft music. Style and Audience These chairs appeal most to people who want comfort. The metaphor here is “home and family” warmth and safety, even love. The design is timeless, except for the easy care microfiber fabric. Liquids purl and easily sponge off. I used a little furniture shampooer on them and the fabric cleans nicely and dries quickly. The underside of the chair collects dust bunnies and pet hair, but the vacuum gets that easily. I suspect it will never hold a stain. The chairs would look good in any light, but sunlight would fade the fabric and candlelight or a warm fire seems right They do look a little big in this small room in bright light, but they are staying here. The living room is small and dim, and great for a big screen TV, even if it is an old fashioned rear projection model. I am certain that I experience this chair exactly as the designer and creator intended. I relax into the chair and float, enjoying its tactile luxury and convenience. If one can afford only one chair in the living room, this should be it. It would work well in the bedroom too. A reading corner on a rainy afternoon would be a great getaway. Mostly I love to touch this chair and sit in it with my feet up, halfway reclined and watch a romantic comedy or listen to great orchestras. Me and My Chairs This is my chair, and I will likely keep it and its companion until it falls apart and then have someone custom make another pair. I knew I loved this chair before I started writing this, but in looking at it even more closely, this chair is my favorite piece of furniture besides my Clavinova. Sensually it is the tactile that is so attractive. The texture of the fabric mixed with the extreme comfort of the perfectly placed cushions is perfection. There is no smell , except when I spray it with Febreeze, since I share it with a cat and a small dog, and we all fit nicely. The dog loves the footrest edges as my feet only occupy the center. The little cat prefers the left arm. However, neither one sits in it unless I am there. The chairs suit my personality well as I do like comfort and warmth, and especially coolness in summer. It makes me feel rich. I am grateful to that generous neighbor, but not grateful enough to give them back. Having a pair is nice. I expect to find someone to fill the other chair some day. These chairs appeal to visual-spatial intelligence, since they seem a bit wide to look at, but when you are in the chair they are perfect, They fit this space better than any couch. They satisfy the need for bodily comfort and rest, relaxing the muscles without effort. They are soothingly quiet, and their bulk may muffle the sound of the TV or music to the neighbors. The two chairs together do promote quiet discussion, reading or listening and just simply relaxing. It is easy to unwind, make plans and even solve problems sitting in such luxury. I do like to sit and write using my tablet, mostly poetry, and they position nicely for sketching. Logically and mathematically they simply appeal due to their beautiful design, especially their perfect balance. I wonder if the make weight the materials. Oddly enough, I had no idea how much I value these chairs until I did this exercise. On Maslow’s hierarchy of needs I generally purchase based upon “bang for the buck”, and I certainly got that! I have an eye for design but not fashion. I like timeless design, because I want my things to last me and I do not replace what I continue to use until it breaks. If I buy an antique I will use it. I do not want things for display alone, except for art, of course. I also look for good design and function. I will pay more for quality and sustainable manufacture. This chair may be custom made, and the materials are well chosen. I have some mild allergies to some fabric chemical dyes and these chairs never make me itch. The two social motives that come to mind are intimacy and time with myself relaxing. The major influence these chairs have had are that I love my generous neighbor. It reminds me of a story the grandmother of a friend told at thanksgiving one year. She said she had been living in Fairbanks, Alaska and had been invited to dinner at a coworker’s home one year as she was alone going to school and working. The coworker was Inuit and she did not know enough about the culture to avoid admiring any object in the home. She complemented the friend’s mother on her MukLuks, telling her how lovely they were. The woman immediately removed them and made her a gift of them. She started to refuse politely when she caught a look from her friend, and he said (translating), she says they will bring you far more pleasure than they ever will for her. The Inuit mother was right, because my friend’s mother still wears them every winter fifty years later. She has had them resoled three times. Thinking of this I called up the gentleman that gave me these chairs and asked him if her needed anything. He was delighted and asked if I had a “9 inch square Pyrex baking dish. The one for his toaster oven got broken. O took him one the next evening. Findings The design of this chair is timeless, functional and superbly comfortable. Recliners are not centuries old and this one with the nice rocker function is extremely well made in spite of the errant tacks. The mechanism s are smooth and well designed. The previous owner had these chairs about 12 years and they will last a long time without needing refurbishing. However, their design makes them worth refurbishing. I was very pleased to discover the solid wood frame and even the little things like the steel wraps on corners. This chair is important to me, more important than I realized, I mean I liked it, but maybe I am very attached to it. It is a symbol of comfort, home and love. It holds hope for the future. I would love to be able to design and make such a beautiful thing. Even though it is comfort, maybe I really will keep it forever, refurbishing it as needed. It is symbolic of my neighbor’s generosity. It seems to hold emotional value for me, and I think it would work well no matter where I live. It is a metaphor for everything good in life. Read More