A collaborative furniture project by product designer Donghwan Song and product design studio Fountain Studio, the Tamable Chair is crafted with precision to deliver ergonomic comfort and appeal. The chair is designed to optimize the user’s body shape and type, thereby juggling the user’s need for comfort and quality.
The Tamable Chair is crafted with precision to deliver ergonomic comfort and appeal; Above: The Tamable Chair alters according to the shape of its user as Styrofoam deforms depending on the amount of applied force and pressure.
Of shapes and sizes
Intrigued by the properties of Styrofoam, Song decided to learn its traits of altering shape when external force and pressure are applied. Majorly used for packing materials and insulations, Styrofoam is composed of nearly 98 per cent air which enables its shape-shifting trait. The rest of it is made of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam – a dense craft building material – which makes the material appear rigid. He incorporated these qualities in creating the Tamable Chair. An interactive piece of furniture, the Tamable Chair alters according to the shape of its user as Styrofoam deforms depending on the amount of applied force and pressure; thereby interacting sensibly and physically between each other. “To realize the concept of Tamable Chair, I conducted overall research mainly focusing on the size and shape of patterns. Furthermore, I also studied the type of materials that allows a shape to be dramatically influenced and transformed when a person sits on a chair,” informs Song.
To realize the concept of Tamable Chair, Song conducted overall research mainly focusing on the size and shape of patterns.
After trying and testing for about two months, the product was finally prototyped in a factory that mainly processes foam-based materials on account of the implementation of pattern details. Expandable polystyrene (EPS) using multi-axis CNC milling equipment had been used during the manufacturing process of the chair, which created an uncommon pattern on the chair. Vertical dints flow down the white block supportive base and leaned backrest of the chair.
It is the user’s sitting position that determines the taming point through the pressure affixed by the user’s back, seat and leg.
Quality comforting
It is the user’s sitting position that determines the taming point through the pressure affixed by the user’s back, seat and leg. During the taming process, the user can easily feel the changes as the physical marks are immediately visible.
Styrofoam’s ability of twisting and bending on adding external force not only makes the chair more adaptable but also lightweight.
Maintaining the appeal of a regular chair, the Tamable Chair may offer an unfamiliar feeling at the beginning. However, over time, the chair becomes more tamed and suitable for its use as the surface of the chair adapts to the user’s seated positions. The chair adapts the user’s body shape in such a manner that the seat and the backrest get comfortable for the user. Styrofoam’s ability of twisting and bending on adding external force not only makes the chair more adaptable but also lightweight.
During the taming process, the user can easily feel the changes as the physical marks are immediately visible.
Fact file
Material: EPS (Expandable Polystyrene)
Height: 27 mm
Angle: 70’
Distance of Point: 25 mm
Image courtesy: Donghwan Song
The chair adapts the user’s body shape in such a manner that the seat and the backrest get comfortable for the user.
About the designer
Donghwan Song is an industrial designer based in Seoul (KR) and Lausanne (CH). He majored in product design at the Hongik University in 2020. As an industrial designer, his projects mainly focus on providing the new experiences and bring convenience to daily life by his formative, material and interactive solutions when people use or manipulate products. While working in Korean design studios, he collaborated with clients ranging from Samsung Electronics to start-ups. Also as one of the artist member registered at ADAGP (Société des auteurs dans les arts graphiques et plastiques) and Amitiés Internationales André Malraux in France, he represented experimental works that visualise his own concept language with functions. Currently, he is studying Master in Product Design at E CAL in Switzerland, aiming to provide people with a positive using experience through his design identity.
Designer Donghwan Song