Day 058: Bendable materials

Today we are tackling the topic of bendable materials. What kind of bendable materials you can find home? Do you happen to have some straws, tubes, pipes or iron wire? What could you create by using those bendable materials? We decided to choose iron wire and some bendable paper for the activity of today. Building tiny scale models is a great activity and we shall also look a bit behind the scenes how we actually using it in our everyday work too! It is a great way to explore the forms, constructions and ideas.

Some early stage sketch model of Pujo coat rack.

Usually the design process starts with sketching ideas of concepts, shapes, forms and use of materials, we call that part research and sketching.  After that we jump into 3D world. Small sketch models are an excellent way to understand the scale, proportions and the basic structure of furniture or other object. Usually we are building multiple variations of the same idea with small variations and different proportions. It is a great tool to see the differences and also place them into a miniature world to see the context and scale.

Small 3D mock ups of Pujo furniture family from 2015-2016.

We are using this way of working very often and with some examples we shall show you how it is a part of our process. Pujo family is an example of a project where we have used the technique in the design development. This collection of furniture is design for a Danish company, Ferm Living.

From mock ups and scale models to real products. These are pictures of Pujo furniture family that was designed for a Danish furniture company Ferm Living.
Product pictures © Ferm Living

Pujo wall table
Product picture © Ferm Living

Small furniture family with bendable materials

The activity of the day is to build your own miniature furniture out of bendable materials. We have chosen iron wire and some paper as bendable materials. If you do not happen to have iron wire at home, maybe you can think of some other optional materials or you can just work with paper. We have first made some simple chairs and a table to warm up with the activity and after we have build some other chairs using wire and paper.

This is a fun activity because you can also learn how to measure the existing products like tables and chairs and convert those dimensions into a scale model dimension. Let me give an easy example. For example 10cm in nature/real life equals to 1cm in your scale model. We measured our table and some chair and converted those dimensions into scale model dimensions. The radius of the table was 120cm and the height 70cm so the final size of our scale model table is 12cm wide table top and 7cm high stand.

First we start the activity warming up with simple stools and a table out of paper. What is the scale and colour of your table set?

This is how we made some chairs out of iron wire and paper. How does your collection look like? Use your imagination, colours and materials as you wish!

You do not need to stress so much about these dimensions and scales also! The idea is to experiment with the materials and create some new, fun and exciting looking furniture! This is not very serious business, this is supposed to be fun, so feel free and build your own little world of furniture. If you miss some inspiration maybe you can just try to make things you have around you in a smaller dollhouse scale!

Dear followers we want to remind you that parents assume all responsibility for the safety of their children in these activities.

♥ - Team Bobola -