What is Good Chair Design?

xxxxxThe question has been debated for centuries and there may never be a correct answer. What is good chair design or better yet, what is good furniture design? Is good design defined by what the majority of the people believe at any given time in history or is good design timeless? Examine these two chairs below. These chairs were designed in the 1950's chairs to bring about a futuristic look in furniture design. The 1950's were consumed by space exploration and the modernization of the American lifestyle. This post war era style could be reasonably produced which enable the American consumers the ability to afford basic necessities for their new suburban home.

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xxxxxThat same look by today's standards may be considered ugly, outdated or even retro. So what might be considered a good design today may surely be outdated in the next ten years. One thing is for sure, change will occur especially in chair and furniture design.

xxxxxThere are so many different factors that can influence chair design. For example, in Colonial times, chairs designs were influenced by the region the they were produced from, the chair makers and the local materials that were available. Some chairs parts had very distinctive features. Thomas Chippendale's standard claw feet carvings helped distinguished the piece from were it was made from either Baltimore, Philadelphia or even Boston. Such details made one chair differ from another and reflected the good design methods from the chair maker.

Thomas Chippendale Chair Leg

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18th Century Philadelphia Chairs nnnnnnnChippendale Corner Chair

"Good design reflects the relationship between function,appearance materials and construction methods".

Check out the two chairs below.

In your opinion, which design is better and why is it better?

Click to Vote!

Andrew Mullegton Chaise Loungeffffffffxxxxxxxxf11 Windsor Seat

xxxxxLet's test your knowledge and see how much you really know about good chair design. See if you can identify any classic styles. Now take the Chair Design Pretest.