Micaelan Davis

As a designer, I am interested in systems and the inherent interdependence between parts. My typical approach to a project is highly controlled with many of the decisions made before construction begins. During my time at RISD, I have tried to be more conscious of my design process and more open to learning through the making process. In this vein, the lounge chair is very much a product of its process.                     

I began with an investigation into how to connect plastic tubing to itself. The initial sample was painstakingly woven by hand but I realized there could be interesting potential in actually weaving the material on the loom. By using a warp-faced technique, the vinyl, which in this case is the weft, is only visible as a bump until it protrudes from the ends of the weave. The density of strands also ensures the structural integrity of the system. As I set up the loom and began to weave, I had the proportions of the body in mind but the dimensions of the piece were mainly driven by intuition. Once the woven structure was removed from the loom I responded to its movement and shape in designing the metal supporting structure and attachment system.    

The investigation actually yielded two projects, the lounge chair being one of them; and has gone on to inspire a third foray into the use of fibers in furniture design. I find the fundamental systems that determine the woven structure’s pattern and form quite interesting, especially how they can yield a large variety of outputs from small changes in input. The straightforward simplicity of the final product is beautiful in its relationship to the nuanced process from which it came. 

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