Ivan Gu
Industrial Designer + Product Innovation
Where ideas take shape.
A modular approach to comfort and motion.
THE COLUMN CHAIR
2023
THE OPPORTUNITY
Traditional bean bags offer relaxed comfort, but provide little structure as the body shifts between different sitting positions. The opportunity was to rethink this familiar typology as a more responsive piece of furniture—combining the freedom of a bean bag with a structured rocking frame and adjustable column cushions. The goal was to support changing postures while making the chair itself part of the interaction.
Supportive
Introduce structure and body support without losing the relaxed character of a bean bag.
Adaptable
Allow cushions to be repositioned around different postures, body types, and ways of sitting.
Playful
Encourage movement and tactile interaction through rocking and removable cushions.
FROM PRINCIPLES TO FORM
Exploring how rocking geometry and modular cushioning could translate support, adaptability, and play into a unified seating form.
FROM MODEL TO FULL SCALE
A scale model was used to evaluate proportion, rocking geometry, and cushion configuration before translating the concept into a full-scale prototype through CNC machining, assembly, shaping, and hand finishing.
THE COLUMN CHAIR
A structured frame. A flexible way to sit.
SIT. SHIFT. REARRANGE.
Removable cylindrical cushions invite users to reshape the chair around different postures, preferences, and ways of sitting.
