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Design Products (MA)

Shiou-Hau Chang (Poul)

"Furniture presents a specific gesture in order to serve humans."

This project delves into the subjective nature of furniture through a series of iterative works - by redefining the relationship between furniture and the human body, gradually developing a furniture's unique body structure and establishing it as a species in its own right. Using clothing as a language and foundation for communication, the project acts as a bridge between the human body and furniture, fostering mutual learning, understanding, and adaptation. This transformative approach transcends the boundaries of traditional objects.


Clothing and furniture serve different goals, leading to significant disparities in their design. While clothing enhances and modifies the human figure, furniture conceals intricate technical aspects. These divergent objectives manifest in distinct forms—one loose, the other tight.


Fabric serves as the medium to facilitate an engaging discourse between furniture and the human body. Rigid furniture draws inspiration from the tailoring techniques of human clothing, acquiring volume and curves. Conversely, human clothing adjusts to the posture and manufacturing methods of furniture, enabling harmonious integration.

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Poul Zhang, 28, is a furniture designer who focuses in the transformative process of bringing objects to life. He embraces the possibilities that lie within each object, treating them as narratives waiting to unfold. With a keen eye for design, Poul skillfully employs silhouette details to portray the unique character of his creations, transcending the confines of traditional boundaries.

Having pursued industrial design at Tatung University and gained invaluable experience through international exchanges and work in a Danish furniture design studio, Poul's expertise is enriched by a diverse background. Following graduation, he assumed the role of Director in the product design department at piliwu design, leading various projects encompassing brand planning, product development, furniture design, and spatial design. Additionally, Poul collaborated with Serendipity Studio on large-scale installation art projects, further showcasing his versatility.

Beyond his practical work experience, Poul remains devoted to crafting anthropomorphic furniture and delving into the subjectivity of objects. His studies at RCA have allowed him to explore new dimensions and challenge the relationship between humans and their possessions. With a visionary perspective, Poul aspires to create a world where people develop an emotional bond with the objects they own, fostering a deep sense of desire and connection.

Relationships

The project starts with observation, and the goal is to find interesting execution directions.

From the three perspectives of fashion, humans, and furniture, different interpretations of the same state are listed. 

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After inferring the original state of the furniture, let humans reproduce the shape of the furniture through clothing. The arms should be at the waist in this case.
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