Frumpy Chairs: Hand-crafted Plastic-molded Seating by Jamie Wolfond

Posted by Carly Ayres | 3 Jan 2013 | Comments (1)

Frumpy Chairs, "Poly" and "Mary-Kate" (left to right)

Toronto born and raised, Jamie Wolfond is currently a senior at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. We first profiled his Extraterrestrial Seating earlier this November and are excited to share his newest endeavor in seating design. A proponent of big messes, loud noises, and hard work, Wolfond epitomizes that in his latest project, which is no exception.

Frumpy Chairs are one-of-a-kind plastic seating, where the experimental process behind each piece results in a series of totally individual chairs, none alike. With Frumpy Chairs, Wolfond brings together the seemingly disparate worlds of 'hand-crafted' and 'plastic-molded' to create completely unique plastic chairs.

The entire Frumpy Chair Series

The chairs are made from plastic regrind, which are chunks of failed injection-molded parts that would otherwise go to waste. Sourcing the material from factories throughout the country, Wolfond was able to get over 350 pounds of regrind donated for the project.

"Apeman"

The process behind the chairs is just as fascinating as the end result. Wolfond pours the bits of plastic regrind into a fire-proof silicone pattern and then staples it together by hand. Placing the entire mold into a pizza oven, he then heats it to the plastic's melting point, removes the mold and slumps it over a crude chair shape to create the final, and ultimately hollow, form.

Detail shot of "Poly," formed from polypropylene regrind

"I sought to create an efficient production method that would produce a varied result," Wolfond said. "Rather than forcing the material into the form, I create a set of variables and controls that would let the chair make itself."

The process behind the chairs is documented via a short video found on Wolfond's website.

Screenshots from the process video of the chair being made.