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FOIL CHAIR
Furniture Design / Prototyping / CMF DesignStatus: Ongoing Concept • 2022
The Protagonist’s Chair – a cinematic statement piece expressed as a reflection of the seated, designed through the lens of distributed manufacturing.
Foil /fɔɪl/
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A very thin sheet of metal
noun
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A thing or person that contrasts with and so emphasizes and enhances the qualities of the protagonist
noun
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To enhance by contrast
verb
1.0 // Approach & Concept
In part inspired by the use of architecture in cinema to contextually enhance or reinforce the qualities of a character within a scene, the project set off as an exploration in the ability of a curated surrounding or object to reflect a subject. The design would eventually become a character in itself and perhaps, more relevantly, a reflection of myself.
Concurrently designing for distributed manufacturing with an emphasis on employing standard material sections and sheets, the approach was nevertheless lateral in scope and unconstrainted in form.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ebc994d645f5447e19513dcc052b86b0b8ba51103585cad478f0e41fb333d89d/10_Twisted-Paper.jpg)
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2.0 // Ideation
The first explorations began with an explosive spray of forms and concepts onto a 10m roll of paper.
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2.1 // Distilled Ideas
Reining in the immense web of threads, three ideas were developed.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7396e6979d8035e9f455f1def7ef6e75f0dc1a195552f2a1ae98799c56f533ed/21_01.jpg)
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3.0 // Prototype 0.1 – 0.5
A further exploration in small card models.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5eb72f0592e231adab317b8ff8cff608344ffdf4c1543005efb4a553be38e93a/30_011.jpg)
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4.0 // Back to the Drawing Board
Unsatisfied with the directions taken so far, a refocus on the initial values of the project brought about another design concept; more simplistic in its elegance and more closely married to the methodologies of distributed manufacturing.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/abfde8bd78eeb18265931db061d6f5774b1e0247ef2c7130a0035ebd74568d57/40_01.jpg)
4.1 // Material Explorations
Refining the concept through a series of physical, formal experiments on the material and spatial qualities of twisted sheet metal.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7c76a2d0615b40b4fd62702a18a5cadf665eaad1fbd21963e0cdf4469e05f790/41_01.jpg)
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4.2 // Prototype 1.0
Exploring a variation of the design with a wooden seat component, prototype 1.0 was a roughly 1:5 scale study model made for testing form, materiality and manufacturing processes.
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5.0 // Prototype 2.0: CAD
Detail dimensions were refined in Rhino, referring continuously to existing chair ergonomics.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b0b3e5a20d6b400ce5f146df4914e9b8df00b7af94a342cfa16239c54ef14278/50_01.jpg)
5.1 // Prototype 2.0: Twisting & Welding
Metalwork for prototype 2.0 was achieved through relatively simple processes.
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5.2 // Prototype 2.0: Surface Finish
A brushed, streaked finish was chosen to accentuate the twists and tensions in the form.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/415e3753d68cf6d3613e5f76eb57bb2ba8739f410c0c7dec3e4824f2df90570b/52_01.jpg)
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5.3 // Prototype 2.0
The latest prototype is a full scale mock-up and manufacturing trial.
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6.0 // Work in Progress
Prototype 3 is currently in development with further work being done on refining ergonomics and finalising the design of the leather strips.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8e65cc25715d0d23527defcc196a6165386b1f3d40671795c689ab2494dc4f5e/60_Foil-Hero-2.jpg)