They look like they would fall over backwards to me. How would you prevent them from doing that?

I suppose if you are from Utrecht, you must know of the work of Gerrit Thomas Rietveld? He made the 'Red and Blue Chair'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrit_Rietveld


I've just finishing an Honours degree in industrial design engineering (BSc). Chairs are one of my favourites :) So I'd be happy to offer any help.

I'm a very tall bloke and things like chairs, I feel very passionate about in their design process, however I don't think that you have to have a degree to build or design a chair. The degree part only really helps on working out the maths involved to help indicate what is the absolute minimum one can get on the thickness of the legs and back support before there is a fracture. What is the maximum I need on the thickness so the product is sustainable, and also costs the least amount of money to manufacture.

Most so called 'designers' rarely consider this, especially the ones who are setting out in the business armed with nothing but a copy of 3DS Max. It is also vitally important to ask yourself how the product will be made, manufactured and assembled too. This is why I'm always requesting better assembly tools in modeling applications. It is also vital to think about moulds too. The more shut-offs that a mould requires, the more expensive it becomes. Complex surfaces also add considerably to the overall cost.

Of course if you are modeling for VR only, then that's fine, but where you will be successful as a good designer, is learning how all these processes gel together.

Here's a couple of good links concerning moulding shut-offs;

http://www.protomold.co.uk/Desi...1_designtips/default.htm

http://moldright.com/shutoffs.htm

It's a pleasure! :D