Modular furniture for study and reading 1 CHAPTER 1. Current stage 1.1. Introduction Furniture is a composite which contains several sorts of pieces… [614005]

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Modular furniture for study and reading 1

CHAPTER 1. Current stage

1.1. Introduction

Furniture is a composite which contains several sorts of pieces – chairs, table, beds and so on –
which have uses and dimensions that have only little in common (apart from the fact that a set of
furniture that is intended to be used together is often designed as a group). During the last years
furniture industry is in continuous growing, new and modern furniture parts appear on the market;
along with the evolution of the furniture indus try, consumer demand has grow n.
Because modula r furniture it is easy to assemble and dismantle according with the needs and it
gives a modern look to the home and offices, customers have turned their attention to this type of
furniture. Another important criterion in choosing any piec e of furniture it is the price, these has a
major impact on the choice that customer makes. Because of that, it is important that designers take
into accounting both the design and economic criteria.
From the design point of view, the furniture should be e asy to realize without any unnecessary
processing, which will increase the cost of the product, in order to obtain a technological product
and which by its shape and design fulfill the aesthetic needs of the customer.
Before anything else, one shou ld know exactly what modular furniture for study and reading is. It is
very flexible and can be packed in minutes if required. First of all, this type of furniture is
manufactured in large scale in a variety of colors and shapes. This makes it easy for customers to
find the perfect piece that would match with their current needs and budget. Another advantage is
that is very flexible and it can be easily moved around and carried along when moving to other
place. Modular furniture is available in different material s such as plastic, wood, glass, metal , etc.
There is already a large variety of furniture for study and reading on the market, but most of them
are not modular, occupying an extremely large space and having a high price or can’t be used for
both reading and studying .

Bachelor’s subject motivation

Furniture is one of the main elements of every house because most of the time spend by the people
takes place in spaces filled with furniture . Every piece of furniture we buy reflects our personality
and style .
The main reason why I choose this theme was to create a chair that meets all the aesthetic and
ergonomic criteria, offers comfort and does not occupy an excessive space by combining several
piece of furniture into one object.
To begin this project the followi ng aspects are considered:
 Existing products on the market;
 Product design specifications: what will be required of a product, before it is designed;
 Conceptual variants for the product.

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1.2. Furniture for study an d reading already on the market – advantages and disadvantages

Figure 1. Furniture designed for reading [1]

It is a chair dedicated to reading designed by Remi Van Oers. It is made from wood and fabric. It is
also provided with a book holder and a lamp that allows use of this chair during the nig ht without
having to light the bulb in the room that could bother roommates. The disadvantage of this chair is
that can be used just to read a book or a magazine without a support or a table allowing it to be used
for study or writing something. For ergono mic point of view, its dimensions make it difficult to
handle and move this being an inconvenience for some customers.

Figure 2. Steelcase Brody [2]

Steelcase Brody is a piece of furniture designed for both study and reading. It is made from steel
and fabric. This piece of furniture provides high performance, comfort and privacy. The design is
provided with an adjustable metal support for the laptop or for writing and with a footrest (foot
support) for added comfort. The disadvantage of this product is that it can be used only in offices
and reading or university spaces. The design makes hard to fit into dormitories, living rooms, dorm
or regular rooms.

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Modular furniture for study and reading 3

Figure 3. ROCK’N” READ chair [3]

ROCK’N’READ is a rocking chair that generates electricity from th e rocking motion. Is made also
from wood and fabric. The chair is provided with a lamp to facilitate reading even during the night.
The disadvantage of this chair is the fact that it is made only for reading and because the overall
dimensions it uses relat ively large space. This type of chair does not address to customers who want
a modular furniture for both study and reading.

Figure 4. Rocking wheel chair [4]

Rocking wheel chair is designed by Mathias Koehler. Like most of the furniture piece is made from
wood and fabric. The design of the chair and its functionality make it a favorite for the passionate
readers. It is provided with a lamp which use of the rocking motion to charge the power source
which is located at the back of the chair. The C – shape give to the chair a good – old look. The main
disadvantage of this chair is the fact that can be used only for reading.

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Figure 5. Modular furniture for children [5]

Modular furniture for study and reading is also available for children. In the above i mage is
presented two piece of furniture – a table and a chair – intended for both study and reading for
children. The two piece of furniture are made of plastic and can easily combined for extra space.
None of the two piec es have a source of illumination ne eded to be used a lamp during the night.
This considerably reduces the working space. Another disadvantage of this product is that it does
not contain any storage space for books.

Figure 6. Adjustable desk and chair set [7]

Designed especially for sch ool rooms, the adjustable desk and chair set can also be used as an item
of furniture in the children’s rooms or in the spaces where they spend time studying and reading. It
is made of high quality plastic and steel. The advantage of this set is the adjust able height of both
chair and desk that make it possible to use on a long time period. Unlike other models, the desk
cannot be tilted.

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Figure 7. Kneeling chair

It is a chair designed for both children and adults used for spine correction during study ti me. The
chair is made from birch wood and retardant cloth and it is easy to assemble using screws. The
curved design prevents static posture and stimulates moveme nt allowing a range of postures
necessary for spinal health. The specific slope of the seat ro tates the hips forward, opens the angle
between upper and lower body and decreases damaging compressive loads on the low back. Also
there are many different ways of sitting in the chair: toes touching the floor or not, one leg in or one
leg out, using the kneepads or not, etc.

Figure 7 . Bulb chair design [6]

Bulb chair is designed by Gaëtan Van de Wyer especially for teenagers . It is an indoor char for
reading and also for relaxation or me ditation . The chair is made from sustainable materials such
as ra ttan or water hyacinth. It is multifunctional furniture with a LED lamp to illuminate the
living space.

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Figure 8. Rocking chair design [25]

It is a relaxing rocking chair with side storage bag for books and magazines. Has an integrated
footrest that adjust to five positions for different tasks. The chairs comes in different types of
materials and colors.

Figure 9. Reading chair [26]

It is a chair designed by Sakura Adachi, which combines the functionality of a library with a
reading space equipped with a lamp . Beside the fact that it requires a large space to be mounted and
allows reading in a single position (which c an cause back pain and fatigue), the reading space is
narrow and it can induce the filling of claustrophobia.

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Figure 10. Eames L ounge Chair [27]

It is a chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller furniture company. The Eames
Lounge Chair was introduced on the market in 1956 and it has been in continuous production ever
since. The chair has a luxury, elegant and mode rn design, being available in different colors and
materials.

Figure 11. Bookinist chair [28]

Bookinist it is a movable chair designed for rading . It is based on the principle of a pushcart and can
be rolled to a favorite spot. The inflated tyre provid es also air suspensioned seating comfort. About
80 paperbacks can be stored ready for use in the arms and in the backrest of the chair. With a
reading lamp and hidden compartments for writing utensils (reading glass, bookmarks, pencil,
eraser, pencil sharp ener and a pocketbock are included) [28]

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1.3. Costumers Analysis

It identifies target customers, the needs of these of these customers and specifies how the product
satisfies these needs. This analysis is important because there is a continuous evolution o f the
customers on the market and, at the same time, the old needs evolve.
To determine the tar get group, the following criteria should be considered:
 Social criteria: occupation, level of training, social class, etc.;
 Economic criteria: income;
 Demograph ic criteria: age, gender, material status;
 Geographical criteria: region, environment, climate;
 Behavior and consummation criteria: type of shops frequented, buy frequency, quantity
purchase, frequency of use of the product, fidelity to the brand.
Gatherin g data from customers can be done through different methods:
 Interviews: one or more teams discuss needs with a single clien t in his environmental space
for about 1 -2 hours.
 Focus groups: represents a discussion of about 2 hours with a group of 8 to 12 cli ents. Team
members can observe the group.
 Online surveys: these surveys are conducted on an on -line platform and sent to clients. This
method is one of the most used to find out the customers opi nion

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CHAPTER 2. Establish the project objective s

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CHAPTER 3. Product Design Specification

A product design specification (PDS) is a document which sets out fully and in detail exactly what
will be required of a product, before it is designed. Some comp anies do not work to such formal
specifications, but as a result they are not fully in control of what they produce. PDS is essential.
When we write a PDS, we are defining something that does not yet exist. But for practice at
thinking this way, it can hel p to look at an existing product and work out what in PDS was.
 Performance
The chair should provide comfort during study and reading and in the same time to fulfill all the
ergonomic and anthropometric condition that make it sustainable. The lamp with adj ustable light
must allow it to be used also during night period without causing eye fatigue.
 Customers
Before introducing a new product on the market, it is important to study and understand the needs
and preferences of the potential customers. The chair a ddresses to students, teenagers and people
who just want to spend time reading. It is provided with accessories and components that meet the
customers’ requirements such as: foot support which enhance the comfort, adjustable light lamp and
study table.
 Environment
The chair should be able to support the customer’s weight without any damage occurring (to fulfil
this condition the calculus of maximum force admitted will be realized). The materials used must be
of high quality, with high durability and not di scolored or lose their gloss in contact with various
external factors.
 Materials
The materials used in the chair production must be readily available, easily fabricated and of the
required properties. These include the use of material with increased streng th and on which various
finishing processes have been applied. The electrical components must have the correct insulating
properties.
 Ergonomics
The chair design must allow it to be used by both women and men and also very little physical
effort should be required to assembly and disassembly it. The backrest of the chair will be
adjustable with an angle between 5 to 15 degrees.
 Appearance
The chair should look easy to use and in the same time easy to assemble and disassemble. Its
design, by shape and color , must attract potential customers.
 Finish
It should have an attractive finish. Wood parts should show no surface defects and have smooth
surfaces.
 Packing
The chair should be packed so that it does not any damage during transportation. The parts should
be packed separately and the final product is assembled by the costumer. The assembling, using and
storage instructions must be included in the packing.
 Industry Standards
The chair must conform to any relevant standards for all the parts including the ele ctric one.
 Safety

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It must be easy to assembly and disassembly and the parts should have smooth finishing in order to
prevent any injury.
All this specification should be taken into account in the analysis of the conceptual variants and in
the modeling pro cess of the final solution for the product.
The next step is the realization of the conceptual variants of the product and the analysis of this
taking into account different manufacturing, aesthetic, economic criteria. The entire analysis
process is descri bed in chapter four.

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CHAPTER 4. Conceptual Design (Selecting the optimal/optimum variants)

Table 1. Conceptual Variant s
Conceptual Variant Characteristics
 Reading chair
 Material: wood
 Arm support
 Lamp with adjustabl e intensity light
 Without book holder

 Chair for study and reading
 Material: wood
 Without arm support
 Lamp with low intensity light
 Writing table which can be rotated and transformed
into book holder
 Reading chair
 Material: wood
 Without arm support
 Lamp with adjustable intensity
 Book holder
 Adjustable back rest

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 Reading chair
 With arm support
 Lamp with low intensity light

 Chair for study and reading
 Without arm support
 With leg support
 Adjustable backrest
 Writing table which can rotated
 Book holder

In order to find the optimum solution for the final design of the product, five conceptual variants
were realized . These will be analyzed taking into account the following criteria: functionality,
design, ergonomics, easy assembly/disassembl y, material durability, cost in relation to materials
used. For each conceptual variant marks will be given from 1 to 5 in relation to each analysis
criteria. The optimal conceptual variant from functional, aesthetic and ergonomic point of view will
be the one with the highest score. With this variant will be continued the project, where a 3D model
will be created.

 Functionality
The functionality of a product represents its ability to serve multiple purposes, with the aim of
being practical. The possibili ty to use this piece of furniture for study, reading or just to work on
your laptop , make i t more attractive to costumers because it is more simple to own a single product
that fulfills three function than a single product for each of these purposes.

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 Design
Design refers to both the shape and the color of the product. An attractive design , a variety of color
and shapes can lift the product to the top of customer preferences .

 Ergonomic s
Ergonomics is the process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they
fit the people who use them. It is important to keep in mind all the ergonomic aspects when we
design a product because when you are doing a job and your body is stressed by an awkward
posture or repeated movement your mus culoskeletal system is affected. Your body may begin to
have symptoms such as fatigue, discomfort or pain. Different components such as arms or legs
support, adjustable backrest can improve the product convenience.
0123456
Variant 1 Variant 2 Variant 3 Variant 4 Variant 5Marks
Conceptual variants Functionality
0123456
Variant 1 Variant 2 Variant 3 Variant 4 Variant 5Marks
Conceptual variantsDesign

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`

 Easy assembly/disassembly
In genera l, a product that is designed for easy assembly may also be easily disassembled. To
optimize a product’s end -of-life system, we should consider designing for disassembly. This type of
design can also serve to make a product more serviceable for users and a id in maintenance and
reparability. Such a design can have the following benefits: facilitate maintenance and repair,
facilitate part/components re -use, assist material recycling.

 Materials durability
The increasing demand for new products, combined with broad consumer preferences, in the
furniture market has resulted in a vast array of furniture materials. From wood to metal, each one
has its own distinct features that make it unique. Use of high durability materials leads to an
increase in the produ ct life cycle. While durable products can often be initially a bit more
expensive, that initial cost quickly balances out in the long term. Cheaper, less durable products are
naturally prone to much more frequent breakages, which means that repair or repla cement expenses
can quickly ramp up, making ultimately them more costly.
0123456
Variant 1 Variant 2 Variant 3 Variant 4 Variant 5Marks
Conceptual variantsErgonomics
0123456
Variant 1 Variant 2 Variant 3 Variant 4 Variant 5Marks
Conceptual variantsEasy assembly/disassembly

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 Cost in relation with materials used
Product costs are outgoings that are incurred to create a product that is intended for sale to
customers. Product costs include direct materia l (DM), direct labor (DL) and manufacturing
overhead (MOH). It is important to keep in mind all the costs involved in manufacturing process
because they can increase the final price of the product.

After the conceptual analysis was made taking into all the criteria presented at the beginn ing of the
chapter, variant no.5 appeared to be optimal solution as shown in the chart below:
0123456
Variant 1 Variant 2 Variant 3 Variant 4 Variant 5Marks
Conceptual variantsMaterials durability
0123456
Variant 1 Variant 2 Variant 3 Variant 4 Variant 5Marks
Conceptual variantsCost in relationship with materials used

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0123456
Variant 1 Variant 2 Variant 3 Variant 4 Variant 5Total mark
Conceptual variantsConceptual solution

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Chapter 5 . The 3D model of the product
A 3D model is a virtual representation of a three -dime nsional object that is generated on a
computer. It is a model that can be rotated and observed from all angles. In order to obtain the 3D
model of my product, SolidWorks software was used. Each component was made individually and
the final 3D model of the product being obtained by assembling them.

Components Picture Observation

1.

Chair foot

It is provided with
cut surfaces on
which the book
holders and the
metallic frame will
be mounted
Material: Ash Wood

2.

Metal frame

Material: Aluminum

3.

Book Holder

Material: Ash wood

4.

Seat

Material: Ash wood,
Foam and Fabric

5.

Support arms

Material: Steel

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6.

Foot support

Material: Ash wood,
Foam and Fabric

7.

Table arm

Material: Ash wo od

8.

Table

Material: Ash wood

9.

Backrest Mechanism

Will be purchased
from a company
specializing in
producing this type
of components

10.

Backrest

Material: Ash wood

11.

Lamp

Material: Ash Wood

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12.

Screws

Standardized

On the following four pa ges there are presented different 3D models that shows the evolution of the
“study and reading chair” design from the original sketch to the final variant of the product.

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Figure 8. First variant of the 3D model

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Figure 9. Second variant of the 3D model

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Figure 10. Third variant of the 3D model

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Figure 11. Final variant of the 3D model

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5.1. Product Ergonomics and Anthrop ometrics

Ergonomics

The ergonomics of the product study the human / product / environment interface. This activity
involves extending the analysis of the systemic relationship human -product to the environment in
which this relationship is achieved. It sh ould be noted that a product can be used by several
beneficiaries. Not only the end user, the consumer, comes into contact with the product, but also the
manufacturer, assembler, repair and / or maintenance, or recovers, reconditioning and eventually
reintroducing it into the commercial circuit. It is necessary to analyze all these activities and study
the product and the human -produc t relationship at each stage [8].

Anthropometrics

Experts defines anthropometry as “the science of measurement and the art of application that
establishes the physical geometry, mass properties, and strength capabilities of the human body”. In
simple meaning, Anthropometry can be defined as the study which deal with body dimensions i.e.
body size, shape, strength and working c apacity [9] for design purposes [10] and body
composition [11].
The direct benefit of ergonomic chair is comfort and productivity. There are designed to reduce the
amount of stress. This allows customers to be more focused on what they are doing, more
productive and more consistent.
The chairs whose ergonomic and anthropometric features are not respected do not provide a good
back support, this causing a number of problems. Without a good support it is difficult to maintain a
correct body posture for long periods of time.
What makes a chair “ergonomic”?
 Seat height: it is one of the most important parameters to consider when we buy a chair. The
height is determined by the distance between the floor and the back of the knee height.

Figure 12. Seat height ( vertical and horizontal distance) [24]

 Backrest: we must provide an appropriately sized backrest to ensure that the back is uphold
in a variety postures. The backrest dimensions ensure that the spine is properly supported.
When the spine curves are well supported the risks of back pain decrease considerably.

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Figure 13. Properly lumbar support [24]

 Angle: should not be less than 90˚ ( between 90˚ and 120˚)

Figure 14. Example of backrest angle adjustment [25]

It is important to know what parameter s to design for wh ile the user is seated can help increase the
comfort of the user. Common seated anthropometric meas urements can be seen in Figure 14 :

Figure 14 . Common anthropometric measurements for the seated position [13]

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Use Table 2 for values.

Table 2. Values for 5th to 95th percentile males and females in the seated position used in designing
seating. Use Figure 4 for visualization. Data from BIFMA Ergonomics Guidelines, 2002. All
measurements are in inches.
Measurement Letter Female
5th -95th % Male
5th -95th % Overall Range
5th -95th %
Sitting Height A 31.3” – 35.8” 33.6” -38.3” 31.3” -38.3”
Sitting Eye Height B 42.6” – 48.8” 46.3” -52.6” 42.6” -11.4”
Waist Depth C 7.3” -10.7” 7.8”-11.4” 7.3”-11.4”
Thigh Clearance D 21.0” – 24.5” 23.0” -26.8” 21.0”-26.8”
Buttock -to-Knee E 21.3” – 25.2” 22.4” -26.3” 21.3” -26.3”
Knee Height F 19.8” – 23.2” 21.4” -25.0” 19.8” -28.0”
Seat Length/Depth G 16.9” – 20.4” 17.7” -21.1” 16.9” -21.1”
Popliteal Height H 15.0” – 18.1” 16.7” -19.9” 15.0” -19.9”
Seat Width Not Sho wn 14.5” – 18.0” 13.9” -17.2” 13.9” -18.0”

In order to obtain a product that meat all the dimensional, ergonomic and anthropometric
conditions, the following requirements must be accomplished:

Figure 15 . Measurements from BIFMA guidelines used for ergon omic chairs. (Allsteel Sum™ task
chair pictured) [13]

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Table 3. Specific BIFMA chair design guideline measurements. All measurements are in inches
Specifications
Measurement BIFMA Guideline
Seat Height A Popliteal height
Shoe allowance 15.0” -19.9”
Seat Depth B Buttock -popliteal length
Clearance allowance No deeper than 16.9”(fixed)
16.9” included (adjustable)
Seat Width C Hip breadth, sitting
Clothing allowance No less than 18”
Backrest Height D None At least 12.2”
Backrest Width E Waist breadth 14.2”
Backrest Lumbar F None Most prominent point 5.9” -9.8” from
seat to pan, in and out 1
Armrest Height G Elbow rest height 6.9”-10.8”
7.9”-9.8”
Armrest Length H None None
Distance
Between
Armrests I Hip breadth, sitting
Clothing allowance 18”(fixed)
18” included (adjustable)

Figure 16 . Dimensioning of a workstation using anthropometric data of the intended user
population [20]

To realize the modular chair for study and reading, all dimensional, ergonomic and anthropome -tric
conditions have been t aking into account. All the dimensions are presented in the table below:

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Table 4.
Dimensions
Length Width Height Thickness
Seat 480 mm 480 mm – 20 mm
Chair Foot 500 mm 390 mm 200 mm 15 mm
Backrest 500 mm 450 mm 480 mm 20 mm
Table 500 mm 350 mm 117 m m 5 mm
Lamp 220 mm 70 mm 320 mm 5 mm
Book holder 390 mm 100 mm – 10 mm
Leg Support 242 mm Max. 85 mm
Min. 15 mm
– 20 mm

5.2. Materials
The main materials chosen for realize the “Study and reading chair” are wood and fabric. In order
to be able to ch oose the optimal type of wood from point of view of quality, and also taking into
account the costs ne cessary for purchasing and processing the materials, a research was carried out
on the types of materials available on the market.
Wood is an organic mate rial, a natural composite of cellulose fibers and is classified into two major
categories:
 Hardwood: from deciduous trees (trees which lose their leaves);
 Softwood: from coniferous trees (trees which keeps their leaves all year round).
Beside these two mai n types of wood on the market we also can find manufactured wood:
 OSB (oriented strand board): is an inexpensive manufactured wood made of pieces of wood
mixed with resin and heat to create dense wooden boards;
 MDF (medium density fiberboard): with its st rong and dense structure MDF become
popular in the furniture industry;
 Plywood: it is very popular in the furniture and flooring industries due to its strength and
resistance.

Table 5. Different types of wood
Wood Type Properties

Pine Color: pale yellow to light
reddish brown;
Straight -grained and ring –
porous;
Low density;
Inexpensive.

Oak Color: lighter brown;
Straight -grained and ring –
porous;
Easy to work with;
Durable;
Inexpensive.

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Mahogany Color: reddish brown;
Straight -grained and diffuse –
porous;
Resistant to water;
Low density;
Durable.

Walnut Color: chocolate brown;
Straight -grained, semi -ring
porous;
Used in furniture and flooring.

Rosewood Color: lighter brown to deep
red;
Straight -grained and diffuse –
porous;
Has a high oil content;
Resistant to water damage;
Used especially in luxury
furniture

Ebony Color: black;
Diffuse porous;
Expensive, used in special for
luxury furniture.

Ash Color: creamy with to light
brown;
Durable, very hard ;
Glossy look;
Has excellent shock
resistance.

The aesthetic structure of the components of a product is determined by the quality of the materials
used. The aesthetic values of the materials that are part of the components are determined by the
material structure (col or, gloss, texture) and the processing technique used. Each type of wood has

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its own aesthetic qualities that differ depending on the species, the processing direction, but also
depending on the processing processes used.

Natural aesthetics of wood
 Textur e: it is determined by the relative size and orientation of the longitudinal cells. Wood
species with large cells are said to have a coarse texture (soft and rough), while
those with smaller cells have a fine texture (smooth and glassy). The texture is al so
influenced by growth condition, irregularities and anomalies of the structure.
 Luster: represents the ability of wood to reflect as much light as possible. The natural luster
that the wood can offer is low, therefore it is subjected to a finishing proce ss in order to
obtain a high polish of the final product.

Wood finishing processes
In order to obtain a high quality polish of furniture, it is recommended to use finishing processes.
Taking into account the quality of the materials used in making differe nt pieces of furniture, these
can be finished using two methods:
 Transparent finishing: when we want to emphasize the natura l color and texture of the
wood. This finishing method is made with nitrocellulose, polyester or polyurethane layers
on which a laye r of oil or wax is applied in order to obtain a shiny, matte or polished mirror.
 Opaque finishing: when the materials have an inferior aesthetic value. This method use
substances such as oil -based dyes, nitrocellulose enamels or strongly colored varnishes.
Manufacturing process
The technological flow chart
•raw material
Timber
•is the process of removing
water inside the wood.
Drying
•is the group of operations
by which the wood pieces
are cut in different
directions, obtaining the
products with the desired
size and shape.
Cutting
•represents the
achivement of the final
dimensions of the
products by removing
material additions,
material missalignment,
etc.
Mechanical
machinig
Geometrica
l machining
Processing
for
assembling
•it is used to remove the
wood asperity in order to
obtain a smoth surface
Polishing
•represents the process of
improving the
appearance and qualityof
the wood
Varnishing

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Assembling process

In industry, there are two types of assemblies:
 Un-demountable assembling are that which can be demounted only by partial or totally
destructing the component parts. The main advan tage of these assembling is the low
cost.[21]
Joining : assembling two or more elements to obtain a subassembly. The choice of joint type
takes into account the material used, its strength and the aesthetic of the assembly. Different
type of joining are pre sented in the picture bellow:

Figure 17 . Joint examples [28]

Splicing : assembling two or more elements to increase their size.
Nails : there are two types, made out of wood or metal, but with low resistance

Figure 18 . Assembly using nails [24 ]

 Demountable assembling can be mounted and then demounted without the destruction of the
assembling’s elements and pieces, how many time is necessary.[21]
Screws for wood : fix the wooden pieces by screwing and clamping.

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Figure 19 . Examples of screws f or wood [24]
Mechanical screws : used for assembling pieces of wood, wood and ferrous or non -ferrous
material, wood and plastic, wood and glass, etc.

Figure 20 . Example of mechanical screw [28]

Assemblies with clips : used for assembly wood and metallic material .

Figure 21. Solution for Clips Assembly [28]

Design “ Fir
Cone”
Special Screw

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5.3 Colors

Since ancient time humans have shown a continuous interest in colo urs. These have been studied to
achieve chromatic ambiance that can change an individual’s mood, diminish fatigue and also help
to obtain performance in all areas of activity.
Between the shape of industrial products and the colo urs used there is a closed connection. Shape of
an industrial product can be accentuated by the colours used. Research has shown th at colours are
an important product characteristic and play an important role in the commercial viability or the
sale of the products. However, colours of products, specifically every -day products, are very
important not just for influencing sales but also for m aking products pleasant to use [14]. Most of
the times the colours affect the way we fell about the designed product and have different
psychological effec ts on our perception:

Up to 90% of the decision taken are made taking into a ccount color, depending of course the
product category to which they relate because the human brains prefers familiar elements .
It is not enough to choose a color according with its meaning, it is important to find the right color
in the context of categor y we want to place it, and depending on the specificity of the product we
want to launch [23]. Choosing the right color makes the difference in customer’s choices.
As far as the furniture is concerned, the color chosen must be aligned with the rest of the pieces and
with the color of the walls, because the combination of colors can transform the visual volume of a
room. A balanced color harmony can be: polychromatic (when multiple c olors are used) or
monochrome ( when using different shades of the same color ). We need to be careful because
excessive use of a single color or the combination of more colors th an necessary produce visual
fatigue and unpleasant aesthetic aspect. In general, it is recommended to use two or three colors to
obtain pleasant visual har mony.
Other aspects to consider when choosing the product’s color: •Red is the color of fire and blood, so
it is associated with energy, danger,
power, determination, passion,
desire and love. Red is a very
intense emotional color. The red
color has a very high visibility,
reason why stop signs or traffic
lights use this color.
Red
•Yellow is the color of the sun. It is
associated with joy, happiness,
intellect and energy. Because of the
strong contrast it is creates, yellow
is seen before other colors when
placed on black.
Yellow
•Orange color combines red energy
and yellow happiness. Orange
represents enthusiasm, fascination,
happiness, creativity, determination,
attraction, success, encouragement
and stimulation. For the human eye,
the orange is a very warm color, so
it sends the feeling of warmth.
However, the orange is not as
aggressive as red.
Orange
•Purple color combines blue and red
energy. Violet is associated with
royalty. It symbolizes power,
nobility, luxury and ambition. It
conveys wealth and extravagance.
Violet is associated with wisdom,
dignity, independence, creativity,
mystery and magic. It is the favorite
color of some creative or eccentric
people.
Violet
•Blue is the color of the sky and the
sea. It is often associated with depth
and stability. It symbolizes trust,
loyalty, wisdom and truth. Blue is
considered beneficial to the mind
and body. It slows human
metabolism and produces a calming
effect.
Blue
•Green occupies the most space in
the visible spectrum of the human
eye, and ranks second, blue, in
people's preferences. Green is the
predominant color of the nature,
being associated with natural,
organic products. This color
symbolizes growth, harmony,
freshness and fertility. It is the most
relaxing color for the human eye.
Green suggests stability.
Green

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 Materials quality : high quality materials allow a better adhesion of colors and coloring
solutions;
 The quality of wood varnishes and paints: it is important to choose quality varnishes a nd
paints in order to obtain the desired color of the product;
 The color harmony in relation with materials used.

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