Table of Contents

Acknowledgements. Foreword by John Pile. Preface. 1. Introduction to Furniture Design. Furniture. Design. 2. Function and Social Use. Classifications based on Function. Sitting, Resting, and Sleeping. Eating, Reading, Typing, and Writing. Containing, Displaying, and Organizing. Enclosing, Shaping, and Partitioning Space. Classifications based on Social Use. Healthcare. Hospitality. Institutional. Multi-Use. Office. Recreational. Religious. Residential. Retail. Storage. 3. Form, Spatial Organization, and other Typological Orders. Form. Angular. Composite. Curvilinear. Orthogonal. Sectional / Modular. Spatial Organization. Centralized. Clustered. Grids. Linear. Radial. Typological Orders. Assemble / Disassemble. Built-in / Stationary. Freestanding. Inflatable. Transformable. Moveable. Summary. 4. Furniture Case Studies. 700-400 B.C. Greek Klismos chair. 1750 French Rococo marquetry commode. 1754 Chippendale chair. 1859 Model No. 14. 1917-18 Red and Blue chair. 1922 Blocs screen. 1925 Wassily chair. 1928 Model Basculant B 301. 1932-33 Stools 60 / 65. 1950 Siege de Repos (Antony). 1950 Eames Storage Unit (ESU). 1951 Wire Side chair. 1968 Action Office. 1987 Ghost chair. 1991 Cross Check chair. 1993 Trinidad chair. 1994 Living Pods. 1995 Aeron chair. 2000 Pathways. 2001 The Block. 2004 Jimmy's Buffet. Lessons from the Furniture Case Studies. 5. Furniture Design Theory. Inquiry. Firmitas, Utilitas, and Venustas. Modernism. Systems Theory. Built-Form and Culture. New Formalism. 6. Design. Design Principles. Balance. Continuity, Unity, and Variety. Dynamism and Stasis. Hierarchy and Emphasis. Juxtaposition. Rhythm and Pattern. Scale and Proportion. Design Thinking. Design Ethos. Accessible Design. Codes, Guidelines, and Standards. Green Design. Universal Design. Furniture Design Processes. Conjecture / Analysis / Synthesis. Sketching and Drawing. Model Making. Design Phases. Pre-Design and Programming. Schematic Design. Design Development. Working Drawings. Shop Drawings. Making Templates and Formwork. Fabrication. Pricing and Contract Negotiation. Disciplinary Boundaries. 7. Materials. Material Matters. Material Properties. Materials from A to Z. Adhesives and Glues. Composite Boards. Fabrics and Leather. Finishes. Glass. Metal. Paper and Cardboard. Polymers. Rubber and Elastomers. Stone. Wood and Grasses. 8. Fabrication. Processes and Methods of Fabrication. Preparing Shop Drawings and a Materials List. Securing Equipment, Hardware, Labor, and Materials. Carving, Cutting, Drilling, Folding, Milling, Nailing, Planing, Sewing, and Weaving. Assembling and Gluing. Joinery, Seaming, and Welding. Upholstery. Etching, Grinding, Sanding, and Texturing. Dyeing, Finishing, Painting, Plating, Sealing, Staining, and Surfacing. Delivery and Installation. Repairing, Refinishing, and Restoring. Chronological Overview of Tools. Hand Tools. Machine Tools. Digital Tools. Technology: The Art and Science of Fabrication. Craft. Machine Production. 9. Professional Practice and Marketing. Industry and Markets. Retailing. Furniture Epi-Centers. Trends. Marketing Strategies. Business. 10. Historical Overview. How Societies have Designed, Made, Used and Thought About Furniture Design. 6000 B.C. - 3500 B.C. The Earliest Cultures. Ancient Societies. Old World Settlements. 3500 B.C. - 330 A.D. Antiquity. Ancient Egypt. Mycenaean Age. Etruria. Roman Republic, Early and Late Empire. 330 - 1452Feudal and Medieval Societies. Byzantium. Islamic. Medieval. 1452 -1851 The Rise of Europe. Renaissance. Baroque. French Rococo. 17th and 18th century England. The Colonies and an Emerging America. Early Neoclassical Style. 1851-1945Workmanship of Risk / Certainty. Industrial Revolution . Eclecticism. Revival Styles. Craft and Design. Arts and Crafts . Art Nouveau. Modernism and the Machine Age. 1945-1980Modernism. Evolving Modernism - Rising Heroes. Furniture Epi-Centers. 1980-2000Consumerism. New Craftsmanship. 21st CenturyThe Digital Age. Smart Materials. Computer Numerical Control Devices. Digital and Biological Technologies. New Opportunities. Glossary. Index. Bibliography. Footnotes, Endnotes, and References.

About the Author

Jim Postell is an Associate Professor in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati. He has taught design studio and seminar courses for twenty-three years and maintains an active design practice.

Reviews

"If you want technical, [skills] you have to go for this book..." (The Herald {Glasgow}, Saturday 15th December 2007)