Office Chair Design Course

The Office Chair Design Course is a systematic program centered on the history, design principles, functional requirements, and market trends of office seating, aiming to cultivate students' proficiency in ergonomics application, design evaluation skills, and innovative design thinking.

I. Teaching Objectives
The course is guided by multi-dimensional objectives:

1. Knowledge Level: Students are required to master the development history of office seating, understand the core role of ergonomics in seating design, clarify the factors influencing design (such as user needs, material properties, usage scenarios, etc.), and become familiar with seating maintenance methods.
2. Skill Level: Through practical training, students should develop the ability to analyze and evaluate the pros and cons of seating, draw sketches that comply with ergonomic principles, propose innovative design concepts, and master basic prototyping skills.
3. Quality Level: The course emphasizes the cultivation of environmental awareness, highlighting sustainability in design, while enhancing collaboration skills through team projects.

II. Teaching Content
The course revolves around design and functionality:

1. Historical Evolution: From ancient simple seating to modern smart office chairs, analyze the design characteristics of different periods (such as the transition of materials from wood to metal/plastic, and the upgrade of functions from single support to adjustability and breathability).
2. Ergonomics Fundamentals: Explain principles such as human body dimensions and pressure distribution, and illustrate how to optimize comfort through seat inclination, lumbar support design, etc., with case studies.
3. Structure and Materials: Disassemble seating structures (seat, backrest, armrests, base, etc.), and compare the durability, cost, and environmental impact of different materials (such as mesh, foam, carbon fiber).
4. Design Practice: Analyze design principles (such as stability, adjustability, aesthetics) through case studies, and arrange project practices requiring students to participate from user research to prototype production.
5. Market Trends: Explore future directions such as intelligence (e.g., sensor adjustments) and modular design, encouraging students to propose innovative solutions based on technological trends.

III. Teaching Methods
Adopt a diversified approach to enhance learning outcomes:

1. Lectures: Systematically explain ergonomic theories and design specifications.
2. Case Analysis: Analyze the success factors of classic designs (such as the Herman Miller Aeron chair).
3. Discussion and Experimentation: Group discussions on market trends, and deepen understanding through material testing, anthropometric measurements, and other experiments.
4. Project Practice: Complete seating prototype designs in groups to cultivate comprehensive application skills.

IV. Assessment Methods
Ensure learning quality through multi-dimensional evaluations:

1. Class Performance: Observe classroom participation and discussion contributions.
2. Assignments: Include design analysis reports, sketch drawings, etc.
3. Examinations: Comprehensively test theoretical mastery.
4. Project Outcomes: Evaluate the innovation, practicality, and teamwork performance of prototype designs.