Quilted - Reimagined seating for public spaces
Date: June 2024
Completed at Victoria University of Wellington
Quilted was an exploration of geometry taking form in a collection of experimental seating designs. It was also an opportunity to practice working with a manufacturer to give our digital models physical form.
The instructions for this project, entitled 101 Iterations, were simple. In Blender, we made 25 iterations of basic geometrical forms. From there, we developed a design for something you could sit on; a chair, bench, couch, or other imagining of a seat. Or rather, we developed 50 designs of seats, experimenting with shape, form, and function. The next step: combine the best iterations of our geometrical forms with the best of our seats. This combination made up our last 26 iterations, leading to a total of 101. The final iteration was our finished product.
My inspiration for Quilted was just that, a quilt. When I considered how 3D models could be made with an arrangement of flat geometric faces, it was reminiscent of how quilting uses a combination of geometric faces to create complex designs and shapes. I started by creating a number of quilting patterns in 3D model form using Blender. I stuck to traditional quilting methods, using combinations of triangles and squares and then arranging them at different angles to add dimension. Once I had a base pattern I liked, I moved on to step two. For my seat, I wanted to create a form that would be a good match to my quilted design, something that would bring out the homey and comforting feelings a nice quilt can provide. I thought about scenarios that didn’t necessarily have that feeling, but that I felt could benefit from the addition of one. One context that came to mind was travel hubs such as airports or bus terminals, places where you might be stuck for a while. I know from experience how hard it can be to relax and find some peace in situations like those, so a nice quilted bench sounded like a lovely addition. By designing a rounded bench seat with variable seating levels, there would be a spot for everyone. Deeper bench seats for those with more time to kill, and taller angled sections to lean against if you only had a few minutes to stop. Combining the quilted pattern with soft fabric materials adds to the feeling of comfort that would otherwise be hard to find; a piece of home to enjoy while you’re between destinations.