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Frame 28 1

My Role:
Furniture Design
Carpentry
Manufacturing

As part of my master's program in mechanical engineering, I took on the challenge of designing and fabricating a chair in the rigorous course ME263: The Chair at Stanford. This unique class allowed intensive focus on a single project, achieving a high degree of finish not usually possible in typical design courses. The project explored ergonomics, structural integrity, material selection, and aesthetics, reflecting the multifaceted nature of chair design as a rite of passage for designers and architects.

Modern interior with a beach view, featuring a cozy living area with a sofa and a modern chair with a dark wooden frame.

LAI

Discover a lounge chair crafted for ultimate comfort, designed to enhance any room with timeless elegance.

Design board for ‘The Lai Chair,’ with a chair photo, materials close-ups, schematic diagram, and design notes inspired by mi
Modern chair with a dark wooden frame, blue fabric backrest, and woven seat, set against a dark background.
Side view of a modern chair with a dark wooden frame, blue fabric backrest, and woven seat, against a dark background.
Modern chair with a dark wooden frame, blue fabric backrest, and woven seat, set against a dark background.
Woman sitting on a modern chair with a dark wooden frame and blue fabric backrest, smiling against a plain dark background.

Research/ Weeks 1-2

I built this chair in 10 weeks under the guidance of Craig Milroy, John Edmark, and Jaye Buchbinder. Their support helped me effectively explore different design choices and materials.

Hand-drawn chair sketches and notes in a notebook Document on Jan 24, 2023 at 10_54_17 AM 1
Blueprint sketch of chair design process in a notebook
Blueprint sketch of chair design process in a notebookle Document on Jan 31, 2023 at 12_32_01 PM 3
Hand-drawn chair sketches and notes in a notebook
Blueprint sketch of chair design process in a notebook
Hand-drawn chair sketches and notes in a notebook
Hand-drawn chair sketches and notes in a notebook

Sketching/ Weeks 1-2
After gaining a general idea of my design, I sketched around a hundred options for the chair profile.

CAD/ Week 3
I converted my sketches into CAD to create dimension, considering standard chair dimensions and biometric data.

A small-scale model of a wooden chair, displaying its compact and functional design.en Shot 2023-01-24 at 11.16 4
Side view of a small-scale model of a wooden chair showcasing its design details
Small-scale model of a wooden chair, rear view Rear view of a small-scale model of a wooden chair with a simple, sturdy desig

Looks-Like Model/ Week 4
Using my CAD files, I printed a 1:1 cardboard model to view the entire design at an accurate scale. Read more

Woman sitting on a cardboard prototype of a modern chair in a workshop, testing the design.
Cardboard prototype chair in workshop.

Sits-Like Model/ Week 5
After identifying aspects of my design to change from my look-like model, I created a rough sits-like prototype. Read more

Wooden prototype chair outdoors.
Woman sitting in wooden prototype chair.
Diagram of chair angles with degrees labeled.

Woodworking/ Week 6-9
With the final form, height, and angle confirmed, I began woodworking on the chair's side panels and seat. Read more

Wooden chair component clamped on a workbench. Shot 2023-03-20 at 4.58
Cardboard chair prototype with screwdriver Image shows a cardboard chair prototype with a screwdriver resting on it.

Fabric/ Week 10
After integrating the woodworking and metal elements, I hand-stitched the backrest and seat cushion.

Fabric stuffing for cushion and frame.
Close-up of hand-stitched blue fabric.

Metal/ Week 10
I added several metal elements for durability at stress points and for decoration.

Brass plates on a workbench.

10 Week Timeline

Narrow exterior stairway between two buildings, leading to a small garden with various plants and cacti.
A large cactus under a skylight in a minimalist interior with a sandy base and white walls.
A modern, minimalist chair with a dark wooden frame, blue fabric backrest, and light woven seat. Sleek, angular design.
Interior space with a tall cactus and two modern chairs with blue fabric backrests in the background.
Exhibit room with three modern chairs displayed on platforms, each featuring different designs and blue fabric backrests.

I had the privilege of exhibiting my chair alongside my fellow classmates at

Emeco House in Venice, CA.

Gallery Showing

Woman sitting on a modern chair with a dark wooden frame and blue fabric backrest, smiling against a plain dark background.

I am greatly inspired by the human centered design of furniture and the opportunity to transform a space through unique and high fidelity pieces.


I look forward to future projects in the furniture space!

Olivia Testa
ME263 | Stanford University

THE LAI CHAIR

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