Oh Chair 讀者休憩區 by Ao Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 生成式設計 Competition Category.

鐵生成式· 2024

Oh Chair 讀者休憩區

by Ao Zhou

Client: Meso Design

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 生成式 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #159602

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The Design

About Oh Chair 讀者休憩區

Oh Chair 係對經典復古未來主義蛋椅嘅現代演繹。設計師透過融合彎曲鋼線底座同標誌性座椅嘅視覺通透設計,捕捉到佢哋對尖端科技處理手法嘅精髓。創作過程中引入人工智能生成內容(AIGC),令 Oh Chair 展現出設計師對人工智能嘅觀點:以開放思維同審慎考量進行協作,喺擁抱進步嘅同時亦顧及周圍環境。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Oh Chair 讀者休憩區是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Oh Chair 讀者休憩區將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Oh Chair 讀者休憩區因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Oh Chair is a modern response to the iconic retro-futuristic egg chair. By incorporating the bent wire base and the visually open design of the signature seat, the designers were able to capture the essence of their approach to cutting-edge technology.
Involving AIGC in the creation process allowed Oh Chair to showcase the designers' perspective on Artificial Intelligence: co-piloting with an open mind and careful consideration, embracing progress while being mindful of the surrounding context.
Dimensions & Packaging: 706 mm X 1316 mm X 1356 mm
Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Algorithmic Furniture, Retrofuturistic, Sustainability, AI-Assisted Design, Furniture Design, Generative Design, Recycled Material, Stainless Steel, Future Casting, Lounge Chair, Sessel Design, Ergonomics
Production Technology: Design Process: Blender/Figma/Photoshop/AIGC

Materials: 100% recyclable polyethylene, Fabric, Stainless Steel
Design Challenge: Training the AI model is the biggest challenge that we met. Instead of just starting from scratch with a publicly available generative AI model, we trained the Stable Diffusion image-generation model on both modernism and retro-futuristic catalogs from the 1920s-1930s, and 1950s to 1960s. This process leads to thousands of Iterations and Ideations. We need to adapt to the technical demands of AI and invest in training and infrastructure. Images generated with these two distinct data sets reflect the general aesthetic of those time periods and that also correspond with our original design goal: While following the legacy of the timeless design from above two golden periods, exploring new materials, construction techniques, and ergonomic solutions within the constraints of a chair design, ultimately producing a functional and aesthetically compelling piece of furniture.
Research: This design project is a speculative experience exploring the impact of creative technologies on the design process. We suspect generative design will speed up the early stage exploration with conversational response, but yet know how it helps the final visualization. To figure out, we conducted qualitative research on how the designer workflow is impacted by generative co-creation.

In this test, designers are the participants. We collected and analyzed data exchange from every step of the design process, from MidJourney to Blender to Photoshop, and found the preset “prompt” setting of the scope for the entire project. After the back-and-forth chat process between the chief designer and mid-journey, generative tech assisted the designer in putting their vision to work and setting the boundaries and visual direction with an extensive image database from both modernism and retro-futuristic, thus clarifying the designer’s direction with the provided tangible option for the next stage.

However, the image generated by AI hardly applies to furniture modeling and production because of its limitation on understanding the z-axis and following the basic law of physics. Here is when the designer takes the lead. During the iteration phase, the design, and design alongside the visualizer collaborated as human factor engineers to restructure the initial design with more human factor and production consideration. Adding human touches, like a round cushion for back support and a visual icon; injects consciousness of sustainability with the material choice. At this stage, generative AI assists the creative process by presenting an incorrect baseline design embodied in the same art direction, this gives designers great motivation to “Correct” the structure, thus self-critique their vision and focus on the human factor and material choices.

The result of the research result is that generative AI is a great tool for visualizing designer vision with lightning speed and liberating design from the heavy lifting of self-double by accelerating the brainstorming process with a pre-trained database and creating “other” derivatives from “self” for more conscious iteration and less self double for later revisions.
Inspiration: The seating of the Oh Chair is reminiscent of bended paper, mimic the lightness and organic fluidity of a paper drifting in the wind, and symbolizing the dawn of a new era.
The welded metal tubes, with their simple bends, pay homage to the outline of a classic paperclip.
Drawing inspiration from Munich, the birthplace of Stable Diffusion, this armchair seamlessly blends diversity, vitality, humanity, and urban elements all in one.
Project Duration: The project started October 2023 in Munich, and finished in January 2024 in Munich and Los Angeles.
Team Members: Art Director: Jiaying Zhou(Connie)
Chief Designer: Ao Zhou
Visualization Designer: Jackson Zhang