Form and function furniture

solo

I want to put a furniture collection together, but I want this collection to be unique.
I am trying to use organic free form shapes and also wanting to balance modern with style.

Here are a few examples of what I have so far, I have not bothered with textures yet as the form is more important at this stage, I also am trying to keep the pieces low enough poly for practical use within SU.
All models are completely SU made and the color images are default fast rendering using Podium.

Any comments would be welcome as furniture design is not my niche, but I really am tired of using the same old, same old stuff thats floating around and wanted something unique to use in my renders as well as give away.

remus

Nice stuff solo, not so keen on the first but the last 2 are pretty cool, i especially like the contrasting colours of the second to last one.

bytor

Nice Stuff Solo!

I think it is a great idea to create your own - I want to take the time to do the same some day. I like the organic shapes you have started with - very contemporary feel to them all.

My suggestion would be to look at some of the manufacturers sites you think are cool and closely observe some of the finer details of their pieces. It's often the little things that make a difference. Here are a couple of my favorites;

http://website.johansondesign.se
http://www.fritzhansen.com
http://www.artifort.com
http://www.moroso.it
http://www.bebitalia.it
http://zanotta.it
http://portal.cappellini.it

There are both practical and material influences that can affect your designs. For instance - the first 3 pieces rest flatly on the ground plane in a suction cup manner. This isn't usually preferred from a material standpoint as even the slightest of feet or pads that raise it off the ground provide a little airflow, and protection against a liquid spill on the floor surface. Also - some of the pieces seem just a little too upright to be comfortable, and even the slightest hint of a more body conforming seat / back can add a lot of realism.

I assume you are using the sub-d and smooth ruby to achieve these very flowing results - wonderful job!

Bytor

utiler

beautiful solo, just beautiful.....

solo

Thanks guys!

Thanks for the links, I will certainly look through them.

Rcossoli, I used Google translate, thanks.

Here is another, more close to traditional (at least IMO)

bianhai

I like very much !Very good!

nomeradona

beautiful solo, who knows some manufacturers will see this and you can have a patent with these.

boofredlay

Pete, those are very good. Although the first one looks a bit too much like a urinal for me to want to sit in it

Richard

Nice idea pete!

My opinions, harsh at times sorry!

Not liking this one bit too heavy and over complicated.
Too high and not striking enough to dominate furniture hights above the norm. Think egg chair - gets away with it!
Like this one though feel the base rim could be removed and the weight of the base volume reduced. Think rattan would be nice finish.
Sorry not loving it, for me too much detail and movement in the skin, and maybe too much depth and height in the back.
This is very similar to the one done by a young Australian designer nut I can't remember his name! I like it though, might benefit of the portals being bigger.
The sofa, Hmmm, ditch the hard edge framing of the billows IMHO.

Again sorry if this sounds harsh though you were after feedback!

Cheers, Richard.

solo

Oooh! you cut me deep!

Actually Richard thats the response I am looking for if I am to succeed at this ... thanks (removed from Christmas card list)

Eric, looking at it again it does actually, my wife thought it looks like the onboard seating from 'Space Oddessy 2001'

Nomer, I would rather them contact me to model their range at a decent price (tough economy)

Anyway here are two more...

Cat in the hat couch

Rocker chaise

solo

This one needed a glass texture, and it would probably sell for an absolute fortune.

The glass loveseat

remus

Thatd be bitch to manufacture, if its possible.

Perhaps a velvety type finish instead? might make it seem a bit more feasible.

watkins

Dear Solo,

The last one reminds me of a tree, so I could imagine it sculptured in wood (oak?). To be honest, while all your designs are pleasing to the eye, few would be pleasing to the bum (oops, naughty word as my daughter used to say). Perhaps you should start off with a typical (God, what is typical these days!) human shape and then model your furniture around that. If I am relaxing then I would like somewhere to rest my head and arms, and I like my back supported too. In a formal setting where the furniture is more decorative than functional then arm-rests and head-rests can go. Depends which market you are designing for. Perhaps combine organic shapes with boxy shapes to give contrast. Scale is important too. Large volume areas (e.g. the reception hall of a large hotel) need large furniture, but most houses cannot accommodate large pieces as they dominate the space. As Jean would say, "Just Ideas".

Regards,
Bob

solo

LOL@y'all

I suppose comfort falls into the "function" department, I need to get to that part.

Have you ever been to a corporate office or a millionares home and seen an item of furniture that dominates the room? Like the glass chair above, it would be purchased as a conversation starter or a centre 'arty' piece, or just because you got the bucks and want everyone to know.
Like the next one, friggin heavy (cannot be stolen too easily) and a pretty penny to buy a set of 6.

Marble stool

plot-paris

what a great thread to start the day. thanks solo.

a great variety of forms - quite pleasing to my eye (I love organic forms). and your presentation of the models (wireframe + render on white background) is very attractive.

short question: did you mirror-component these models in order to reduce the filesize? or do you get a visible seam then?

solo

Jakob,

I indeed used the mirror component method on some of them to keep sizes down.

Here is another take on the glass chair, this time it's rough aged stone in the snow (exterior park seating)

Richard

Yeah sorry Pete!

Man you're going to fast! Slow down - take a valium and make some more reditions of your first few, some nice promise with a few of those pieces! The sun bed is also looking sweet, maybe a framed strapped or woven version there would be really nice! Wouldn't mind some of these going away from mono pieces and incorporating support to lighten and break them up!

hey what is going on with the marble stool mate????

solo

Having fun again between projects.

Playroom seating

Rusty statue seat

Richard

You my friend are on a roll. The statue and kids playroom seating is superbe!

Frederik

Dang, Pete...!!
These are really good..!!

Perhaps you should think about being a furniture designer...
Or even better - move to Denmark and make some Danish design...