Back to Homepage

HAMBURGER STOOL


DESCRIPTION

What if stools came alive?

Hamburger Stool brings a playful twist to furniture design, exploring how life can be brought to a simple stool. From toys and dolls to animals, the concept of "life" often comes through their eyes. Even with just two simple dots, every living being tells a story with just its eyes.

TOOLS

• SOLIDWORKS, Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Blender 3D
• Lathe, Woodworking, Lamp Assembly, Product Photography

TIMELINE

NOV 2023 - DEC 2023

CREDITS

• Model: Hanbyul Lee
• Model: Sanghyuk Seo
• Model: Isabella Choi








   BACKGROUND

CONCEPT


Inspired by the lifelike elements in sci-fi films, I aimed to create a stool resonating with familiarity. Sketching various concepts, including legs, head shapes, and eyes, I found eyes to be the most captivating as they show a sense of character into the furniture.



OVERVIEW

PROCESS



CONCEPT SKETCH + CAD


DRILL + LATHE 

ASSEMBLY

LIGHTING




STEP 1

CONCEPT SKETCH


Using CAD, I rendered the basic form, choosing cork for the head due to its soft, friendly aesthetic when paired with wood. 

I also began thinking of different joinery systems for how the stool can be assembled together.


STEP 1

CAD





STEP 2

DRILL + LATHE: BODY


Utilizing CAD, I determined leg placements, used a drill, and shaped the form on a lathe for a circular, soft design. I allowed the lathe to guide the process, such as creating a groove in the bottom section for a portable grip


STEP 3

DRILL + LATHE: HEAD


The head piece went under a similar lathe process to achieve its circular shape, presenting a new challenge—creating a space for the cork piece. I ensured the depth of the head piece was not too deep to hide the cork eyes, yet not too shallow to make the cork stand out too high.

To enhance the assembly process, fluted dowel joints were incorporated at the bottom of the head to create an easy connection with the body.


STEP 3

DRILL + LATHE: LEGS


Using an initial prototype from scrap poplar wood, I crafted leg pieces.

The challenge involved deciding if a bottom stretcher was necessary. After turning two leg prototypes, the stool proved sturdy without stretchers. I began turning four legs from maple wood, using a CAD template for uniform height and width.


STEP 4

ASSEMBLY


Following the lathe turning, I inserted walnut wedges into cross cuts on the legs for added tension. Some legs required two cross cuts for improved stability.

Another challenge involved ensuring all four legs laid flat on the ground. For this, I added a circular maple wood piece at the bottom, achieving a uniform height.

STEP 5

LIGHTING






FINAL

PHOTOS