2 weeks
Karl Ludwig
Sarah Kocher
Semester
Spring 2022
Nomad's Table
Collapsible Outdoor Workspace
The Ohio State Design Department's annual design charrette topic in 2022 was an investigation into the transformative repair of broken, donated, and unwanted products through creative and provocative design interventions. The repaired products, which were displayed in an exhibition at the end of the charrette, were intended to grab the public’s attention and spark a conversation about consumption habits.
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For this two week charrette, I worked with Karl Ludwig (industrial design class of '23) and Sarah Kocher (industrial design class of '24) to repair a broken folding chair that we received from the department.
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Our repair solution, the Nomad's Table, maintains the outdoorsy characteristics of the original chair and provides nature-lovers with a portable work surface and storage area that they are able to take with them on their adventures.
Time Frame
Partners
'Before' State
My partners and I began by identifying some of the issues with the chair in its present state.
We noticed wear and tear such as:​
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dirty fabric
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rusty frame
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scuffed feet
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large rip in the seat
We also took note of some design issues:
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small, oddly-placed pockets
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minimal chair back support
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too small handles
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We then created a list of the chair's features and attributes, which we used to generate ideas for the chair's transformative repair:
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Collapsible
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Portable
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Strong metal frame
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Supports things off ground
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Handles
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Versatile: Chair, table, and storage all in one
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Rugged, outdoor identity
Sketches courtesy of Sarah Kocher
Repair Ideation
Next, my partners and I generated a list of potential repairs and transformations:
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Patch the seat
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Add wheels
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Luggage rack
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Folding table
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Planter
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Bird bath
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Towel rack
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Ice bucket stand
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Camping “stove”
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Camping countertop
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We liked the idea of keeping the outdoor identity of the original chair in the updated version of the object, so we began to quickly sketch an idea for a portable camping workstation with a table and plenty of storage space.
Frame Transformation
We began the physical transformation process by removing all fabric and the side table from the chair's frame. Then we prepped the frame by roughing it up with sandpaper before spray painting the frame a forest green to match the outdoor aesthetic.
Storage Construction
After spending some time designing patterns for the pocket strap and the bottom storage sack, we began to cut and waterproof the canvas fabric pieces. I led the sewing aspects of this project, and so I was responsible for using the sewing machine to construct the storage sack and pocket strap, as well as showing my partners how to hand stitch the finished storage sack and the handles to the frame.
Tabletop Construction
We wanted to construct a tabletop that was able to collapse with the frame and storage sack, which required a bit of technical thinking and prototyping. Once we found a solution that worked, we cut out the table at full scale, attached it to the frame, and finished it with Danish oil.
Scenario of Use
The Nomad's Table is an easy way for outdoorsy people to transport their gear and a work surface all at once. The interlocking tabletop hinges during transport while a collapsible sack holds objects below. A removable strap of pockets above the tabletop allows the user to easily access their things while using the work surface.
Outcomes
Deliverables
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the folding chair, newly transformed into a Nomad's Table
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a poster showing our design process
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a short video explaining our making process
Personal Development
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explored the role of repair/transformation within the world of design
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vastly improved my knowledge and skills related to sewing
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practiced undergoing the design process within an extremely short period of time
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honed my making skills
