AM: Furniture for developing nations.

As I researched furniture for educational facilities in developing nations, I developed an understanding of the requirements needed for the product, and also discovered several interesting opportunities. Furniture for developing nations needs to be:

Ergonomic:

Ergonomics play a huge role in the quality of learning. When I child is suffering from back pain or a sore bottom they are hardly going to be concentrating on their schoolwork! It seems obvious, but ergonomics were not seen as necessary in educational furniture until recently ("we aren't raising sissies!"). Furniture in developing nations is quite often archaic, hand me down furniture from this utilitarian era of furniture design.

Strong:

Strength is one of the most important considerations. School kids are inherently excitable, and the furniture they use no doubt gets quite a rough life. From standing on tables to swinging on chairs, school furniture gets its fair share of abuse, which it needs to be able to withstand. It must also have a long product lifespan. If my proposed design only lasts 12 months before ending up in the landfill, then it is a failed product.

Safety:

Paralleling strength in many ways, safety must be built into the design of school furniture. Durability, stability, 'soft' or rounded edges, and sturdy joining techniques all need to be considered to ensure a strong and safe design.

Modular construction:

A modular construction allows for the replacement of damaged components, further extending the products lifespan. A lack of adhesive will aid this goal.

Other aspects I want to explore in my design will be the possibility of including local craftsmen. This could have a heuristic element to it; could local craftsmen aid the students in assembling their new furniture, passing on an interest in trade skills? Could local craftsmen be commissioned in the construction of the furniture, stimulating local economies?

Research resources:

Zacal, J., Simek, M., Dostal, P. (2014). Construction development of school furniture for developing countries. University of Brno. Retrieved from https://mnet.mendelu.cz/mendelnet2014/articles/56_zacal_967.pdf

Eckelman, C.A., Erdil, Y.Z., Haviarova, E. (2003). School chairs for developing countries: Designing for strength and durability, simplicity, and ease of construction. Retrieved from https://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/fnr/faculty/eckelman/pdf/d200302a.pdf