Kuulas: Examining the design processes behind the development of a chair prototype with practice-led research methods

Abstract

Through the designing and making of Kuulas – a wooden low chair with textile components, I examine the development processes by which iterative and explorative methods are employed with research tools through a practice-led research framework. This thesis contributes to the field of arts and design by exemplifying a designer/maker’s account of the methods and processes developed and used between furniture and textile design parameters based on personal experiences. Several stages of the thesis project are employed with experimental sketching, visual tools, materiality, and reflections. These applied research approaches were perceived as tools used to develop the project. Ultimately, these research tools are used to identify and contextualize the development stages of the project, and implement them as research and making strategies for the evolving sphere of furniture and textile design.

This thesis presents working methods, personal knowledge, and tools developed for a furniture work as practice-led research. Accordingly, the first section of this thesis introduces the research topic, questions, and aims of the project. It continues with the background section describing a brief history of my furniture making and printmaking practices, of which introduce the ideation and experimental projects leading to the main essence of wood and being grounded concepts that are emitted in this thesis. The literature review discusses Japanese, Danish, and experimental chair typologies that inspired this project, as well as an overview of applied research tools, practice-led methods.

The methods section of the thesis is primarily twofold: The development of woven textiles and the development of the low chair. These two areas are narrowed with step-by-step process descriptions and reflections thereof; these foretell how research tools were employed to examine the iterative, explorative processes behind the project development, and to convey the decisions emitted towards the form-language of the Kuulas chair, which the name comes from the Finnish meaning: clear or pure. The textile section describes the hand-woven collection, printmaking technique, and surface design application that all led to the End-grain industrial woven fabric used in the chair upholstery, cushion and blanket. The low chair development section describes the chair typology and modified ergonomics developed through several sketching processes including: Sumi ink paintings, drawings, sketching with blocks, 1:1 mock-up, all of which lead to the final prototype.

This thesis provides a glimpse into practice-led research methodologies. Throughout development stages of the project, communicative tools and form-finding techniques are developed to best examine furniture/textile making and design processes. These studies indicate the importance of documentation and reflection, as they are present in communicating how thinking and making has evolved throughout the project. Furthermore, this thesis examines how an artist-designer can employ his/her experiences and personal histories to develop abstract concepts for design projects. Throughout the thesis, there is a discourse between these personal experiences, as textile and furniture design practical knowledge and sensibilities, which are merging with iterative and explorative making methods. Moreover, the thesis is considered as viable academic research towards furniture and textile design fields. This information provided in this thesis may be relevant for those who are interested in interpreting their own furniture, textile, or related creative practice with practice-led methodologies.