Make a chair

From idea to finished furniture – design and build your own chair

This workshop is designed to immerse participants in the realms of design and basic woodworking.

The exercise entails crafting a chair within defined design and material boundaries, including the use of a square section, specific tools (hand saw and table saw), and the restriction to straight cuts, along with assembly using screws and glue.

By adhering to a structured design process, the objective is for participants to not only engage in the practice but also to depart with a tangible project – a chair –representing their journey through the creative and constructive aspects of the workshop. The essence of creativity and the design process lies in these constraints, forming the focal point of exploration in this workshop.

Note

The workshop consists of three sessions. The first session will focus on sketching, designing the chair and planning the construction.

Students will be introduced to basic technical drawing, emphasizing elevations and a cutting plan.

During the two making sessions, students will manufacture their chair using tools such as a handsaw, table saw, drill, and sander, along with screws, glue, and clamps to easily create the chairs.

Finally, they will sand the final shapes and explore different options for finishes.