CHAIR DESIGN
Sculpted Fan-back Chair by Brian Boggs, cherry and leather
(26"x26"x40"), 2002
Brian Boggs
August 11 – 22
Students design and develop prototypes of functional chairs within parameters set by Brian, in order to gain firm understandings of what makes a chair successful and how to design effectively. Brian shares his own design method, from gesture drawing to scale models and full-size prototypes. He emphasizes basic rules of chair design such as seat pitch and lumbar curvature, along with technical know-how such as using wood movement to advantage. Demonstrations include steam-bending and laminate-bending, precision joinery on the bandsaw, and other techniques as they pertain to individual projects.
Participants are encouraged to design within the structural vocabularies of box-frame chairs (legs and aprons) or post-and-rung chairs. Designs outside these parameters require Brian’s approval prior to the class. (Brian communicates with students in advance of the course to get the design process started.) Designs are intended for construction with kiln-dried hardwoods, as opposed to green wood.
Brian Boggs is a Berea, Kentucky chair maker whose exceptional designs and workmanship have earned wide acclaim. His approach integrates a thorough mastery of traditional Appalachian woodworking with continued innovation in tools, techniques, and design. In addition to running a four-man shop in Berea, Brian is a founder and Board member of Green Wood, and has participated in their economic development project to encourage sustainable use of the Honduran rainforest. Brian’s work has been featured in numerous national publications, including Fine Woodworking and Home Furniture.