Orbit Chair, Design Story

Orbit design. 

This concept started when i was at university, playing with wire rings i initially had the idea of a fruit bowl, which you can see below. However As I explored the form more, the more I saw the potential for a Chair.    

However as I explored the form more, the more I saw the potential for a Chair.  Adapting this to a chair was difficult,  first task is to ask what i liked from this bowl and how am i going to take those forms and compose it into a chair concept.

The Main struggle was the legs, I was persistently trying to design it to have 4 legs thinking it would be the more practical and sturdy. However the more i tried the more problems it created and it also lost some aesthetic appeal. My eureka moment was I'd gone for the wrong chair design ethos, I was trying to create and all-rounder chair, instead of a beautifully designed statement chair. I went back to the drawing board and revisited the bowl design and mimicked a similar base shape focusing one three base tripod like. It worked on the with the bowl so high chance it would work on the chair. 

Immediately I felt I was on to the path now, So explored a few options in shape, although I decided to simplyfiy it to save me time and cost with having a straight 90 degree side.  Then it was a matter of getting the composition right to give good lumbar support and the right spacing in the rings for seat comfort.  

The final Product Worked out great, and won the Glendenbrook Enterprise Innovation Award 2014. This piece perfectly sums up my ethos to Design, its creative with sculptural qualities and provides its function while not needing to. I want Design to be sculptural and be treated as one thus it will gain longevity. We should strive to create beautiful items, and not just fill it design that too cheap and practical which leads to a throw away society.

AND the next Chapter is now creating a coffee table in this concept. 

Orbit Coffee Table Stay Tuned