For this assignment, we are designing a custom table, or any furniture that is targeted towards a certain group of audience. The versatility and purpose of the table were emphasized in the handout, as well as providing the estimated costs of creating this product through manufacturers and fabricators located in NYC.
When the assignment was announced, I immediately thought of a tea table. I love tea and the serenity of tea ceremonies instead of purchasing packaged cold tea from grocery stores. Tea is so incredibly easy to make (much more than coffee!), the process just takes a boiler and tea leaves, yet most choose to buy bottles wrapped in plastic and filled with preservatives. In addition, having a tea table in the center of a living space is eye-catching and a great conversation starter. Therefore, this design is not only geared towards tea-enthusiasts, but also people who want to reduce plastic waste and add an interest to their home.
INITIAL SKETCHES:
Although most tea tables are designed with straight lines and sharp corners, I think that takes away from the tranquil and serene atmosphere that a tea ceremony is supposed to create. My inspiration comes from the gentle curves of riverbeds and roundness of tea leaves.
PURPOSE AND INTENDED AUDIENCE:
This table is not only designed for people who are ceremonial tea-experts and starters, but also for your everyday-tea-drinker and the environmentally-conscious.
THREE SKETCHES:
In the end, I chose design #2 because of several reasons. First, its curves and turns are reminiscent of tea plantations. Second, the lack of pointed corners are safe for families with small children and clumsy adults, less pain=happiness. Lastly, the amoeba-like shape is eye-catching and refreshing from traditional rectangular designs.
ISOMETRIC AND PERSPECTIVE DRAWINGS:
ORTHOGRAPHIC DRAWINGS:
SIZE COMPARISON:
MATERIAL AND FABRICATOR DETAILS (pdf):
In the end, the tea table comes to about $970 ~ $1150. This price is unstable because Chinese elm is not on demand supply because it’s a bit more rare and has to be shipped from across the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, choosing another fabricator for the table legs alone was a mistake because they are too small to add up to an order and therefore refused to be taken by most lumber cutting businesses. However, if this table were to be approved and actually go into production, I think the retail price may be a bit too high for the average consumer for a small-size furniture like this.
