Comments on: Whittle Chair by Karen Ryan

By: kumke

kumke — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:48:41 +0000

I love the idea of this. Reversing the process of planning and finishing to be something expected- a chair of a certain style and look, and stripping it down to the grain and the texture with no plan or idea of what the final would be. When is time to stop? How much farther could this have gone and still been a functional chair. Who cares. It is what it is now, and I like it.

By: yael miller

yael miller — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:35:36 +0000

As a designer by trade, I love the whittled version of the chair. I think it can be improved and made even more interesting – like ‘J’ points out – use the whittled remains and use it to stuff a cushion for the seat. Actually the only part I don’t really love about it is the rough, flat seat.

I would buy this if it were improved. It’s one-of-a-kind and more organic looking. I like it a lot.

By: Eli

Eli — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:23:37 +0000

Dezeen commentators! Where is the spirit of experimentation?! Ideas don’t have to be finished products—the whole point of experimentation is to go outside of your current frame of mind . . . this may not be the most functional, beautiful chair design out there . . . but there are plenty of those already. If we simply want functionality and beauty, then stop designing! We already have those things—why not just quit while we’re ahead?

By: Hrvoje

Hrvoje — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:11:25 +0000

I like the chair.the experiment.its organic,its natural.its nice.

By: Mc

Mc — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:16:52 +0000

I think they are beautiful and agree with Freddie Says. Why all the elitist negativity in these comments?

By: J

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:28:33 +0000

What if the pile of “whittlings” becomes the filling for the cushion? That way you could take an old chair in need of cushion replacement, and create the filling using just that chair.

By: trendoffice

trendoffice — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:40:05 +0000

sorry, needs

By: trendoffice

trendoffice — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:39:41 +0000

It would have looked better if the seat was the same style. (and this is not just another nasty remark – I really think that she need consistency)

By: Freddie

Freddie — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:48:12 +0000

is it looking better after? In many eyes probably Yes
is it working better after? It functions Just the same, but now it has a greater value to its owner and probably will not end up in landfill.
what was the point? Designer experimentation and her search for beauty in a previously unloved piece of furniture.

By: berts bobje

berts bobje — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:03:13 +0000

If this was an unwanted chair, i think she would have made more people happy by giving it away in the state it was before her itchy fingers got round it.

The treatment the chair has been given I dont see of much value or contribution to the world we live in. Neither has there an extreme been explored, as you can go much further with this and at a certain moment it will fail under its own weight, but you can push this point by making it lighter. Anyway, still it will be more an excersize then a piece of design.