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Sebastian Alessio Peyton

Heritage Furniture

The cherry wood side table from the collection, next to a potted cactus

Project Brief

The goal for this project was to create a furniture collection of 3 unique items: A chair, A lamp, A Side Table The theme of the collection was to highlight the ways that interaction with an object can effect its aesthetic qualities.

Research

Space Research

Heat map of a one-bedroom apartment showing where survey respondents spend the most time

The first step of the process was to conduct both quantitative and qualitative research on how users feel about the furniture in their home. 30 people were asked to complete a survey of where they felt they spent the most time when alone in their homes. The heat map shows a representation of their responses, with an overwhelming majority highlighting their preferences for the living room. This lead me to focus my ideation on living room furniture.

User Interviews

Stylized portrait of interview participant Anabel
Stylized portrait of interview participant Marina

Of those 30 people, 2 participants were asked to participate in hour-long interviews to gain deeper insight on their attitudes towards furniture.

Material Study

Close-up study of a brushed brass material sample
Close-up study of a material sample
Close-up study of terracotta texture

To highlight the ways that time and human interaction will affect the design objects I conducted a variety of studies on different materials. The 3 samples above would go on to become core materials that would be featured throughout the collection.

Design

References

Portrait of designer Eero Saarinen
Portrait of designer Florence Knoll
Portrait of designer Vico Magistretti
Tulip table by Eero Saarinen
Relaxed lounge chair by Florence Knoll
Lamp by Vico Magistretti

The designs for this project took references from other famous Mid-century designers such as: Eero Saarinen, Florence Knoll, and Vico Magistretti.

“Goal of any designer should be to create objects that people refuse to throw out”

Design Concept

Early concept sketch page 1
Early concept sketch page 2
Early concept sketch page 3
Early concept sketch page 4
Early concept sketch page 5
Early concept sketch page 6

Above is a series of sketches that would go on to become the final design.

Final manufacturing drawing of the chair, with material callouts
Final manufacturing drawing of the lamp
Final manufacturing drawing of the side table

Above are final sketches that would be used to manufacture the physical prototypes of the collection.

3D render of the chair, lamp, and side table together

Above is a 3D render of the pieces together to better understand their proportions as well as aesthetic similarity.

Prototyping

Below are photo collections that document how each of the prototypes were manufactured. The goal is to document both process as well as evolutions in the design as the prototype was being produced.

Chair prototyping process photo 1
Chair prototyping process photo 2
Chair prototyping process photo 3
Chair prototyping process photo 4
Chair prototyping process photo 5
Chair prototyping process photo 6
Lamp prototyping process photo 1
Lamp prototyping process photo 2
Lamp prototyping process photo 3
Lamp prototyping process photo 4
Lamp prototyping process photo 5
Lamp prototyping process photo 6
Side table prototyping process photo 1
Side table prototyping process photo 2
Side table prototyping process photo 3
Side table prototyping process photo 4
Side table prototyping process photo 5
Side table prototyping process photo 6

Outcome

The 3 prototypes on display at the Drexel Westphal exhibition

The 3 prototypes would be presented at the Drexel Westphal as part of the exhibition on student work throughout the Westphal Antoinette College of Media and Design

Piccola Libreria - Good Pistachios - Knows Eyewear - Brush Buddy

Download this case study

Heritage Furniture by Sebastian Alessio Peyton (2024)