observation ends up being a design method for KIBEKOUMUTEN bench Observation.01 is a furniture project by KIBEKOUMUTEN Inc., led by designer Masahiro Kibe, that examines how material habits can inform design decisions. Developed around Kvadrat Argo 2, a long-pile fabric, the project examines the relationship in between material, structure, and kind through an iterative process of observation instead of fixed outcomes.
The job began with the attributes of Kvadrat Argo 2 and a concern about the function of material in the design process. Instead of applying the fabric to an existing things, the design developed through a series of full-scale mock-ups that analyzed the material’s habits at edges, corners, surfaces, and points of contact with the body. Observations made during these studies informed subsequent decisions concerning percentage, structure, color, and detailing.
all images courtesy of KIBEKOUMUTEN Inc. tubular steel structure supports a long-pile textile bench seat The resulting bench combines a powder-coated steel frame with a seat upholstered in Kvadrat Argo 2. A simple tubular structure with curved members provides support while permitting the textile to remain the specifying visual and tactile aspect. Structural configuration, measurements, and surfaces were fine-tuned throughout the advancement process in response to the product’s efficiency instead of fixed design intentions.
Observation.01 by KIBEKOUMUTEN Inc. and designer Masahiro Kibe records a sequence of design judgments formed by duplicated encounters with product. Rather than presenting a last or definitive option, the project records an ongoing process in which type emerges through screening, interpretation, and adjustment. It forms part of a broader research study series by KIBEKOUMUTEN Inc. checking out observation as a design technique and the role of product in producing architectural and product design outcomes.
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