UNSW 2019 INDUSTRIAL DESIGN GRADUATE EXHIBITION | HASSELL STUDIO SYDNEY
Photo: Karen Kong
DESIGN PROCESS OF SESURA
preface
Having been a violinist for close to 20 years, I am quite familiar with the physical demands instrumental playing has on a musician. With over 12 years of orchestral training I have not only been exposed to incredible musical experiences but also the strains and injuries as a result of the long practice hours and unique physical demands of being a musician. The injuries my orchestral colleagues and I have experienced have been the inspiration behind this project.
initial concepts
design challenges
The most difficult part of the project was designing the internally housed gearing in this chair that would allow the musician to adjust the chair by turning a handle. Thinking of a simple gear system that is compact to be housed internally yet also sized large enough so that the gears are stronger and need less rotations for adjustment are all considered.
how the internal gears work
The internally housed gears adjust the depth of the backrest depth by turning the handle on the left side of the chair.
It consists of a few components, a rack and pinion + worm drive gear and a turn handle. By using the turn handle you are translating the rotational motion to linear motion.
Using this compact system allows the gears to be housed internally yet allow the musician to simply adjust the backrest to their preferred depth with just one hand.
form development
Rapid prototyping of components for user interaction testing.
innovation
Currently in Australia & across the world, there are next to no orchestral chairs on the market that are able to be fully adjusted with one hand, slim & easily stackable. SESURA is designed carefully with the considerations of musicians & operations staff involved, creating a chair that rectifies issues that have risen from many other orchestral chair designs. The rack & pinion worm drive mechanism that moves the backrest forwards & backwards is a world first feature in adjusting chair depth.
sketch models
cnc machined chair base | 3D printed handles, gearS, chair feet | materials: Blue foam, wood, wire
creating the final model of SESURA
CREATING CHASSIS MAIN FRAME & BACKREST
blocking the chassis with mdf | Blocking the BACKREST with tasmanian oak | both parts cnc routed
ALUMINIUM FINISHING FOR BACKREST FRAME & CHAIR LEGS
Bending | DEburring | powder coating
CREATING THE SEAT CUSHION
laser cut & unwarp plywood | carve foam contour with knife | create backrest support | SEW WADDING & UPHOLSTER FABRIC
CREATING THE CHAIR TURN HANDLES
3D printed resin process : SAND | Prime | Paint | repeat
final model
black stained wooden backrest | upholstered with black recycled POlyester | black matte powder coated aluminium FRAME
Find out more about the main product features of SESURA
Find out more about how SESURA works