SWAPIN'
Swap-in is a genderless, contemporary chair for parents, carers, and babies. The novel concept of the chair is having a removable arm table. The carers can swap the table, from left to right, and support their arm while feeding their babies, in a comfortable way.
CONTEXT
The 21st-century family unit is very diverse and different than what it was 20 years ago. There are many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), and queer couples who are having babies, and more women are going back to work shortly after they are giving birth. Which means men are nurturing their babies as well. For this reason, I wished to create a modern genderless, and sustainable feeding chair.
My aim is, that it will be comfortable, won’t take a lot of space, won't have a specific gender identity, and will be reused long after the baby is growing.
INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION
When I first started design the chair I thought How Might We Disassemble and assemble gender in a matter? Inspired by the Israeli musician, Assaf Amdursky and the Instagram illustrator, Agathe Sorlet, I came up with some new forms for confident feminine shapes. Later I managed to describe the gender using materials, such as wood and metal, and combining them in harmony.
OPPORTUNITY
Most breastfeeding chairs are not suitable for modern families. The main problem with today's chairs is that they are too massive, take a lot of space, and won’t fit in a small modern city apartment. Moreover, since the modern woman will probably go back to work quickly, then she might not use the breastfeeding chair for so long. And while men are more and more involved with taking care of their babies, they must enjoy sitting on the nursery chair as well. Most feeding chairs are unsustainable, which means that parents and carers won’t use them long after the baby will grow to a toddler. Therefore, I chose to design a fine-looking sustainable chair.
Goal - Sustainable Gen
SOLUTION: ARM TABLE AND A COFFEE TABLE
The main concept was having a removable table that parents can swap, from left to right, that will support their arms while feeding their babies. I wanted to find a way to get rid of the massive pillow that newborn parents usually buy to support the arm. Hence, I created a small portable table that will be supporting the parent’s arm, while they feed the baby, and can be used as a mini coffee table, as well. The table can be installed easily, on the left or the right side of the chair. So parents can swap in the table according to their need.
After doing many prototypes of body size and position, using the book, “Human Dimension and Interior Space” by Julius Panero, I found the right dimensions for the SWAPIN’ chair. Regards the design, the chair is made of contemporary colors, that will blend in every house, and minimal materials, such as wood and metal, so it will be easy to recycle.
PRODUCT DESIGN
STAGE 1 - METAL BENDING
STAGE 2 - CNC AND WOOD BENDING
STAGE 3 - MDF ARM TABLE CREATION
OUTCOME
Can you see me
in IKEA stores?
