CCA News
Furniture Students ENGAGE YBCA's Big Ideas
Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, by Sarah Owens
California College of the Arts and San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) paired up this spring when “Production Furniture 1” students, taught and developed by Furniture Program chair Russell Baldon, created new and original furniture designs for YBCA’s grand lobby. The course is a part of ENGAGE at CCA, an interdisciplinary project-based learning initiative at the college that encourages interaction and collaboration between CCA students and community partners.
Community Building
The idea for a project-based furniture course in collaboration with YBCA stemmed from a conversation between Baldon and YBCA graphic designer crystal am-nelson. They had started a conversation at a previous YBCA event about the lack of unique, dynamic furniture in the grand lobby space. The project was born soon thereafter.
“We started with a basic problem in that we needed new furniture for our lobby,” said nelson. “And I felt that whatever we chose had to be very representative of who we truly are, which is not easy to find at a furniture store. That’s when I thought about continuing to work with local design students by co-creating a process where their work could be transformed into a real-life situation while they were still in school.
“I also was interested in experimenting with the museum as a laboratory for emerging artists and educational institutions,” nelson revealed. “It was wonderful to witness their development and excitement for the project throughout the various stages.”
Project-Based Learning
The project-based class took a step-by-step learning approach to getting the students’ designs finalized and a sample piece produced by a manufacturer. Early in the course, students met with YBCA Executive Director Kenneth J. Foster and YBCA staff members in YBCA’s grand lobby to measure the needs and aesthetics of the project. Staff members expressed the need to warm the space and create an environment in which visitors would feel comfortable gathering and conversing.
From that meeting, students launched a research phase of development, during which they conducted staff and public interviews, examined current patterns of use, and looked at similar public spaces for a deeper understanding of the challenge before them.
After the initial research and interviews, students began to design their projects and supervise the manufacturing of a life-size prototype, which was created over the semester. To get insight on the manufacturing process and costs, the class visited several local production facilities including Council Design, Pablo Designs, Concrete Works, and Moss Machine. Local designers also offered their expertise during the students’ design process.
CCA Prepares Students for the Real World
Derek Chen, founder of Council Design, consulted with the students throughout the semester and on through the final presentation at YBCA. “I found it incredibly fulfilling and inspiring to work with the students over the course of the entire term,” explained Derek. “While it's always invigorating for me to see how fresh eyes approach a design problem, seeing the progression week to week, and working with the students over the course of the term, I couldn't help but be impressed and proud of their accomplishments. Working with a real client and following a real project approach, it's clear that these students have ideas and skills that will be valuable in the real world.”
The Furniture students also learned to articulate their design process and present their work as a business asset. They learned the bidding and pricing process as well as how to manage a deadline-driven project by working with manufacturers and suppliers. All students made a book to present their final work and in which they included production costs of the project should YBCA choose to have it manufactured.
From Furniture Chair Russell Baldon
The course provided students with a unique learning experience in a professional setting. Baldon explained, “Having the opportunity for the students to have a dream client like the YBCA is the best thing I could hope for from a class like this. It is one thing to invite some outside critics to a final review, but having everyone pitch their proposals and have the possibility to have them manufactured and used in the public space is really fantastic.”
Eleven designs were presented in the grand lobby of YBCA for the final presentation, and the YBCA staff and board selected six as finalists. These six subsequently remained on display to attract public opinion and gauge how well the designs would work in the space over the long term. After careful deliberation, YBCA selected student Sergio Sandoval’s design for further production. They are currently working with Sandoval on production details.
Design Contest Winner
Sergio Sandoval
Master of Architecture student Sergio Sandoval’s final design is a table constructed entirely out of cardboard tubes, although at first glance that might not be so easy to discern. The object on the tabletop is an array of rolled-up tubes attached together in an irregular cluster of contrasting colors and diameters.
Design Contest Finalists
Jeni Tu
Industrial Design student Jeni Tu took on one of YBCA’s “Big Ideas” (a set of four institutional concepts and goals around which it organizes its wide-ranging programs) as her starting point. Inspired by “DARE,” which encourages innovations in art, action, and audience, Jeni’s Wobble Chair, a cork chair with an elliptical bottom that allows the person seated in it to wobble back and forth in any direction, creating a playful and active experience.
Michael Wlosek
Michael Wlosek, undergraduate Architecture student, produced a sleek and beautifully crafted rocking chair. The white metal frame is reminiscent of the shape of a classic folding metal chair. The seat and back are made of walnut. Michael chose to produce his sample piece himself, an impressive feat not lost on the YBCA staff during his final presentation.
Sarah Ward
Sarah Ward played around with a few permutations of her design before nailing down a final one—an ash-upholstered bench attached in an L-shape to a small table is a simple yet stunning solution to the YBCA’s lack of gathering space in its main lobby. Sarah sought to create a piece that would make a comfortable gathering place for people to rest and interact with one another.
See the Final Projects in Person!
All six finalists have their work on display in the YBCA grand lobby for the run of Bay Area Now 6, an exhibition focused on Bay Area artists, running until September 25th. Admission to the lobby is free and open to the public. For business hours and directions, please visit www.ybca.org.
Related
Learn more about CCA's undergraduate Furniture Program, including how to apply.
Read related news stories.
About Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), located in San Francisco's Yerba Buena cultural district, is one of the nation's leading multidisciplinary contemporary arts centers. With a belief that contemporary art is at the heart of community life, YBCA brings audiences and artists of all backgrounds together to express and experience creativity. The organization is known for nurturing emerging artists at the forefront of their fields and presenting works that blend art forms and explore the events and ideas of our time. As part of its commitment to the San Francisco Bay Area, YBCA supports the local arts community and reflects the region's diversity of people and thought through its arts and public programming.