Far Coast furniture collection
Ready for the 2010 Winter Olympics
The Far Coast Blue Pine furniture is designed for Far Coast, Coca-Cola Company's official coffee brewer of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Far Coast is the brand that inspires social and cultural connections - freshly brewed one cup at time. The products were manufactured at University of British Columbia Centre for Advanced Wood Processing.
My role
Industrial Designer in collaboration with
My goal was to design a furniture collection that is sustainable, elegant, and culturally diverse in a relaxing social environment to promote the Far Coast brand. I developed the design concepts in a team of four to manufacture furniture that people use every day. My deliverables include rapid prototyping (foam core, cardboard, and pine wood), AutoCAD drafts, ergonomics, user research, user testing, and case scenarios.
Industrial design process
Strategic framework
The furniture collection reinforces the brand’s ability to warm people up individually and collectively. The physical design aspect is required to be economically manufacturable primarily by UBC’s woodworking facilities. The lower the cost the bigger the option for higher volume production.
Sustainability
According to the provincial government of British Columbia, the mountain pine beetle has been eating its way through BC’s forests for years; leaving millions of dead and mainly lodgepole pine trees.
The furniture collection is using B.C. mountain pine beetle material to support West Coast communities devastated by the pine beetle as the result of global warming.
Design requirements
The furniture must be suitable for indoor and outdoor use, knock-down, and can be ship in compact state where it is easy to disassemble for reshipping. The final product must be easy to assemble by untrained workers.
Lounge chair and low cofee table
Create a “new concept” that is low, comfortable, and suitable for relaxing while enjoying a hot beverage. Paired with the Far Coast chair, the coffee table must be used for a safe place to set down a hot beverage as the chair does not include that function.
Stand-up community table
Approximately 8’ long, intended for people to be able to rest at with their hot beverage. It should be suitably stable enough for leaning against. The intention of the large size is to promote socialization between different guests sharing the table. It is also required to support a large size patio umbrella.
Rapid prototyping
I made sketches, small scale foam models, and full scale wooden prototypes. Models were refined to get the best proportions needed.
Ergonomics testing
An adjustable seat jig was created to get the perfect ergonomic angles and measurements. Many options were tested to remove any aesthetic compromise over assembly and strength.
Inspired by the Far Coast logo
The chair’s unique asymmetrical back support pattern invites playfulness that allows for a variety of arrangements. The asymmetrical design of the chair allows two variations to be manufactured with minimal added costs, while adding various configurations to create more unique settings for display.
Brand connection speaks to social nature of coffee as a gatherer around the cup
The design captures the brand essence; colour and style. My aim is to help build the Far Coast and 2010 Winter Olympic brand and to help create the ambiance and feel of Far Coast “warming zone”. My goal is to inspire and facilitate social interaction and cultural connections and maintain a design style across all furniture elements.
Ready to assemble on-site for Far Coast workers
Used only dimension lumber to stay within the manufacture budget and to be assembled through ready to assemble hardware. The chairs and tables are flat-pack assembled for ease of production and transportation.
Result
The Far Coast Blue Pine furniture was used in major Far Coast venues and installations in the Athletes Villages, various Olympic stadiums, and throughout Whistler and the Lower Mainland during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Approximately 100 Olympic outdoor lounge chairs, 70 community stand-up tables and 30 coffee tables were manufactured at University of British Columbia Centre for Advanced Wood Processing.
"Far Coast is thrilled to do its part to reduce the overall environmental footprint of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games with our Blue Pine Furniture Partnership."
Chris Terrio, Managing Director of Brewed Beverages, Coca-Cola
"The Far Coast beverage company comments, the 'Blue Pine' furniture partnership will leave a legacy of sustainability, innovation, design, creativity and collaboration, while supporting communities devastated by the pine beetle."
Debbie Travis, Columnist of Vancouver Sun Newspaper (Friday, February 2, 2010)
Credits
Industrial Team
| Industrial Designer | Tina Kao |
| Industrial Designer | Sheila Tse |
| Industrial Designer | Nick Santillan |
| Wood Engineer | Luke Opacic |
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