The Mediation Chair is the final product yielded from an KCAI Product Design elective course called Flat-to-Furniture. The objectives of the class were to successfully move through the design process after selecting from two sitting position choices: cross legged or perch. After selecting the seated position we wanted to design around, we were asked to create a series of sketches, quarter scale models, and lastly the final piece of furniture. They were to be made from no more than a 4’x8’ piece of .5” plywood and had to utilize flatpack design.

For my sitting position, I chose cross legged. I wanted to design a chair meant for long and comfortable sits. From there I chose an activity I want to perform in my chair: meditating.

Meditation has become an important part of my routine and i’ve found from my experience that it can be difficult to stay positioned in the recommended posture for an extended period of time. I wanted this chair to aid the user in maintaining the up-right posture throughout the entirety of their mediation.

In the schematic development phase, I explored different angles for the back rest and heights for the chair to sit off the ground using a quarter scale figure. I knew I needed an obtuse angle, but it was important for the function of the design that it still provided the support needed. From there I started to design digitally in Rhino and was able to flush out many iterations before landing on the final result.

The seat of the chair is roughly 24” wide and has a shallow dish that supports the curve of the body. There are a total of 15 pieces that were cut on a CNC Mill and are connected through a series of half-lap joints and can be disassembled just as easily as they are to assemble. The waffle construction method provides a level of visual appeal as well as the structural benefits that come from the joinery method.