Design and Conceptualization of a Chair
A course by Christian VivancoIndustrial Designer
A course by Christian Vivanco, Industrial Designer
Learn the secrets behind the design of a functional and aesthetically pleasing chair
While it often goes unnoticed, the design behind a simple chair brings together a wealth of ideas that have been refined over thousands of years. When we sit down, we exchange stories, share moments, and learn. That's why it's so important that a chair is comfortable.
In this course, Mexican industrial designer Christian Vivanco shares very specific knowledge and advice on chair design that he has accumulated throughout his professional career. Learn its history, where it comes from, its types and styles, as well as specific advice to not fail in the attempt to design a chair.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 14 downloads
What will we do in the course?
1 minute, 5 seconds
Before we begin - What is a chair?
5 minutes, 58 seconds
What are the components of a chair?
7 minutes, 14 seconds
9 dimensions and 33 tips to design a good chair
16 minutes, 14 seconds
Project context
2 minutes, 38 seconds
Study the typology of the chair
3 minutes, 2 seconds
What's included in this course?
To start this course, Christian introduces himself and tells you where he comes from, why he decided to become a designer, his favorite projects, and the creatives that have influenced him throughout his career. Finally, he explains the details of the content of this course.
Learn about the history of the chair, its varieties, and the designs that, in his opinion, have defined everyone else’s. He also shares with you some tips on dimensions and structural principles to help you ensure the success of your design. In addition, he gives you some examples of classic mistakes that are often made when designing a chair.
Once you've learned the basics of chair design, Christian shares with you a case study of one of his most beloved designs: the Camelia lounge chair, which he designed for a very young Mexican company called Balsa. Learn about the behind-the-scenes, how it came about, and what lessons he learned along the way.
Using as an example the case of the Camelia reclining chair, go through the steps that every designer must take to create their own chair, among them the sketch, the model, the 1:1 plan, and the prototype.
What is this course's project?
Design a chair by applying the advice and data shared during the course. The objective is to develop it at the model level, going through sketches, general plans, models, and 3D renders.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is ideal for industrial designers, interior designers, creatives, and furniture design fans.
Requirements and materials
For this course it is not necessary to have any kind of skills or talent; you will only need the curiosity to learn and the design tools you feel more comfortable using.
Reviews
- 7 months ago
Está bien, pero es demasiado breve. Además de mostrarnos cómo hizo su silla, quizás pueda dar más herramientas para diseñar otro tipo de silla. Lo que me gustó de su silla es que utiliza la artesanía local, combinada con los moldes de hierro. Creo que el curso podría haber profundizado en los aspectos de construcción de la silla. Igualmente el balance general es positivo.
- 1 year ago
Muy bueno, aprendes mucho sobre el mundo de las sillas, la historia, y las medidas para hacer una buena silla
- 1 year ago
really good course.
- 1 year ago
Curso introdutório mas interessante para começar a entender design de produto.
- 3 years ago
a good course to start from.
During his 10-year professional career, he has had the opportunity to participate in projects in Colombia, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and the United States.
In 2018 he was invited by WeWork to curate and design the furniture used in their offices in Mexico and Latin America, and had the opportunity to design pieces of furniture that today are used in more than 40 buildings in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica.
Content
- U1
Who, what, why?
- Presentation
- My Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Understanding the chair
- Before we begin - What is a chair?
- What are the components of a chair?
- 9 dimensions and 33 tips to design a good chair
- U3
Case Study: Camelia Rest Chair
- Project context
- Study the typology of the chair
- The design concept
- U4
Specification and prototype
- Sketch and explore, fearless
- Size and refine your design
- Change media. From the sketch to the model, the model, the plan
- The importance of workshop work
- From prototype to product
- FP
Final project
- Secrets to Designing a Chair
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
This course is aimed at people with intermediate industrial design knowledge who want to deepen their understanding of chair design, analyze classics, and apply advanced conceptualization and production techniques.
You need basic industrial design knowledge, access to sketching tools, and preferably 3D modeling software. Having simple materials for models and a willingness to research historical references is also helpful.
You will learn how to analyze classic chair designs, apply ergonomic principles, select materials, conceptualize innovative ideas, develop sketches and 3D models, and create a professional furniture project portfolio.
This course focuses on the analysis, conceptualization, and technical development of chairs, covering history, ergonomics, materials, production processes, and portfolio creation to showcase personal or professional projects.
Yes, the course guides you through creating and publishing your professional portfolio on platforms like Coroflot, highlighting your projects and design process.
You will use sketching tools, 3D modeling software, materials like cardboard or wood for models, and digital resources to document and present your projects.
The course covers key measurements for seats, backrests, armrests, and legs, inclination angles, and how to adapt dimensions for different chair types and usage contexts.