HAIKU

First, I spent time brainstorming and conducting a competitor analysis. I studied the shapes of different stools and considered usability. Once I had a clear vision in my head and had made a bunch of sketches, I started creating quick prototype experiments using cardboard and paper. When making the prototypes, I wasn’t too focused on details or appearance; I was just exploring the feel, form language, and proportions.

After the prototyping and brainstorming, I began turning my idea into a product. I chose birch plywood for the material and metal pipe for the legs. I converted the Rhino 3D model into drawings using AutoCAD, then took the drawings to the laser cutter to start cutting the seat.

Once all the wooden parts were cut, I used wood glue and dowels to join the pieces together. The top layer didn’t have through holes for the dowels, so I installed it after attaching the legs. I clamped the pieces for an hour and then moved on to working on the legs.

The school had metal pipes that suited my needs, so I started cutting them. The most challenging part of the whole project was definitely getting the angles of the legs right and attaching them. This step required a lot of precision and patience to ensure the stool was stable and not wobbly. Despite all the challenges, the stool turned out to be surprisingly stable—I even impressed myself. This really shows how much the number of legs, in this case, three, affects stability.

My stool stood firmly after the legs were installed, and at this point, I was proud of how the project had progressed after the most difficult phase. It was a good time to check for any mistakes, as they could still be fixed at this stage. Luckily, no mistakes were noticeable.

Next, I applied plenty of glue between the final seat panel and the rest of the stool and clamped everything tightly. I added more glue to a few spots where there hadn't been enough, and the panels weren’t properly attached.

The most physically demanding phase was sanding the seat. I wanted to put in the effort for my product and achieve a refined finish, so sanding took quite a long time. I sanded the entire product by hand, as it made it easier to monitor the progress and ensure I didn’t accidentally sand too much or lose the form language and curves. I also sanded the cut surfaces of the metal legs to make them safe to the user.

After sanding, I already had almost the finished product in my hands. However, I wanted to paint the metal pipe legs black, as I felt it would bring the product to its final stage and give it a polished look. Finally, I applied wood oil to the seat a few times to give it a beautiful shine, and then used a protective wax to safeguard the surface. I think the product is really beautiful, and the black legs combined with the wood surface create a great contrast between modern and traditional styles. The project was fascinating and taught me a lot about design and consistent progress.