Dressed Chair began with an observation of how chairs often act as stand-ins for the human body. Jackets are draped over them, bags are hung from their arms, leaving them quietly taking on a human-like presence. I wanted to take this everyday gesture and push it into a designed relationship, where the chair humourusly mirrors us back.
This project blends furniture and clothing, heavily influenced by the process of tailoring and fashion design. The outstretched arms and pockets are there to encourage a small but genuine bond through touch and use. This sense of connection sits at the core of the project, as it links to the idea of emotional durability. The way design can build a relationship that lasts is because it feels personal, not disposable.
My work looks at the emotional relationships people form with furniture. I build on anthropomorphic shapes, gestures, and how personality can emerge when individuals are pushed away from the expected. The goal of my work is to create pieces that feel familiar yet invite a second look. Something that is between function and character, and asks people to reconsider the role that everyday objects play in their lives.
Bio I’m Ben, a designer who understands through making. Most of my ideas develop by being hands-on and letting the material influence decisions. I’m interested in how people interact with everyday objects, especially spaces that are overlooked and how highlighting these small behaviours can become the foundation for new design directions.
My practice sits between furniture, clothing and the human body. Prototyping is a foundation in my process, where it allows me to develop my work. Each model or experiment helps me understand how form feels, how surfaces communicate and how objects can influence
