Swell Armchair
Disciplines: Industrial Design
Tools: Solidworks, Fusion360, Procreate
Time: SFSU Spring term 2024, 6 weeks
Swell is designed to complement a surf shack environment, embodying a laid-back, simple lifestyle with its gentle curves and low-stress aesthetic. Featuring a hand-woven seat crafted with love, this DIY piece evokes warmth much like a genuine love for catching waves.
Surf Shack
Warm
DIY
Joinery
Homey
Process
After conceptualizing the aesthetic, many ideas were explored until the strongest concepts presented themselves.
CAD Development
1:6 scale model
CAD iterations
final design
Assembly
Two full chair parts can be cut from a single sheet of 3/4” Baltic birch plywood, then doubled up and assembled through a series of glue-ups using dowels, tenons and lap joints.
1. Double up leg, arm and back pieces.
2. Double up seat pieces and weave danish cord.
3. Assemble legs, arms and back pieces.
4. Fasten seat to chair.
Fabrication
Seat Weaving
The seat was woven using Danish cord (aka paper cord). The cord is fastened via ‘L’ and tack nails on the inside of the seat. Labor intensive but rewarding process.
