CRITERION A

CLIENT (ACCORDING TO MY PRIMARY RESEARCH): 

• How do 3-5 year olds behave?

After having toured the lower school and observed how the kids interact with their chairs, I can conclude the following: 

• The kids like to kick their feet when sitting on the chairs 

• Often lean back when they sit 

• The chair should be easily moveable so they can tuck their chairs in easily, also slide their chairs on the carpet to entertain themselves

• Like to rest their feet behind the legs of the chair when sitting; My design should thus be able to support their weight

• The kids sit on the edge of their chair most often

• Move and turn when they sit 

• Sit within close proximity to table 

• When on the edge of their seat and leaning, they are at high risk of falling; It is crucial the chair be stable enough to support their weight

• Kids play with their chairs and sometimes pick them up; They should be lightweight in case they accidentally hit someone/something when doing so 

• What are their general needs?

-To be able to move easily and efficiently around the classroom environment

-To better be able to work with their peers 

-To promote creativity and completing work in a timely manner within the classroom; This thus requires a source of motivation, as a boring chair design with dull colours will be less inspiring to the kids than a vibrant, colourful chair design would be. 

What are their seating needs?

-A comfortable, easily accessible seating solution 

-A lightweight, easy to move design that is easily adjustable to better pertain to the individual needs/wants of each kid 

-A seat that is able to be used for long periods of time throughout the day

• What are their ergonomic needs?

-A cushioned seat for extra comfort (especially considering the long durations the kids are sitting in the chairs for) 

-A foot rest at the bottom of the chair so they have somewhere to place their feet as opposed to kicking their feet or leaning them on the legs of the chair (safety hazard) 

-Weights on the legs of the chair to ensure that when the kids sit on the edge of their chairs and lean (very common occurrence during visit to lower school), they do not fall

-A stain-resistant material considering toddlers are prone to spilling what they eat/drink on their chairs

• General Montessori Beliefs/Principles - Which are relevant to the design of a chair?

A PREPARED ENVIRONMENT: A prepared environment not only means having the appropriate materials (eg: pencils, paper, colouring materials) that are needed by Montessori students during day to day activities in the classroom, but it also means providing students with an environment that promotes creativity and inspires them to put out their best work. Chairs are one of the most basic parts of the classroom and are thus important in determining how the kids work.

FREEDOM WITHIN LIMITS: Having full creative freedom is an important part of the Montessori curriculum. A new and creative chair design that inspires students to test the limits of what they are able to produce. 

COLLABORATIVE LEARNING: Flexible seating solutions allow for students to take ownership of their learning. A change of seating allows for students to be engaged in collaborative learning in a different way than before and inspires them to approach and work with each other more. 

PRINCIPLE NEEDS:

• Cost

-Microfiber chairs are 60% cheaper in mass production than other materials (such as linen and various types of wood) 

-Using less expensive materials (while still being durable and long-lasting) will ultimately lower the price of producing my chair design in a large scale setting 

• Safety

-Sharp edges or points that could cut a child along the edges of the chair are a safety hazard

-Moving parts that could harm a child's finger, toe, limb or head by: pinching, crushing, trapping (Hence, a swivelling chair and adjustable arm rests are unsafe for the young audience)

-Should be the appropriate height of toddler; If too high, child may fall from chair thus resulting in a potential injury, especially considering the kids often sit on the edge of their seats (as evidenced by my primary research)

-Chair should be lightweight to avoid injury if kids knock them over or pick them up and move them (avoids possible accidents)

• Durability

By definition, durability is the ability of a material to withstand wear despite continual/frequent use. 

-Microfiber and canvas are two of the most durable and soft furniture fabrics.  

-Durability is not only about how well the furniture functions, but also how well it fits the style, mood, and identity of the space, in which case being a classroom 

• Comfort

My chair should be able to support the neck, back, hips, and spine. This reduces pressure on the body, which is important considering the toddlers spend long durations of time sitting on their chairs throughout the day (again according to my primary research). An ergonomically curved back helps achieve this.