At MIT, the design class 4.500, taught by Professor Larry Sass from the Department of Architecture, exemplifies a rigorous exploration of design through the lens of computational tools like 3D modeling and animation. This course challenges students to ideate, plan, and prototype, using the chair as a primary focus due to its balance of aesthetic and functional demands. Students learn to navigate the complexities of design, from defining problems to creating tangible solutions, employing various software tools to develop and test their ideas. By designing chairs, they not only gain practical skills in digital and physical prototyping but also engage deeply with design as a creative process that combines utility with experiential quality. Throughout the course, students produce both scale models and full-scale prototypes, refining their designs based on material constraints and ergonomic considerations. This educational journey not only imparts technical skills but also fosters a nuanced understanding of design as a holistic approach to problem-solving.

https://news.mit.edu/2024/mit-students-learn-from-crafting-a-chair-0322

This is a 33/33/33 project, where the designer and manufacturer constructing all the components, and the consumer assembling the chair at home, are equally involved in the completion of the piece.

People used to be much more resourceful, but nowadays we have become lazy, less confident, or even lost the practical knowledge entirely. This is very sad.

I would like to encourage people to re-discover their ability for building furniture and regain the confidence to work with tools. Giving the consumer a certain volume of responsibility, is for them to regain confidence. “third” is a project reflecting these ideas" 

https://www.dezeen.com/2011/01/10/third-by-max-lamb-for-ey/