Miller Place High School students in Michael Stano’s Design and Drawing for Production course were tasked with designing and constructing a chair out of cardboard that could support at least 120 pounds or be used by a student without breaking. Students were only permitted to use cardboard – meaning they needed to come up with a way to construct their chairs without using tape, glue, staples, nails or any other adhesive.
“This was such an exciting and challenging task for my students and I’m very impressed by the results. Not only did they listen to and apply the lessons we discussed in class, but they used their own creativity and innovation to create amazing final products,” said Mr. Stano. Prior to being assigned the task, students reviewed information related to the strength of certain materials and methods of construction, such as using tabs or slots in their cardboard to create a chair without other supplies. Students also took a deep dive into ergonomics, or the study of how someone’s working environment affects their performance. One example includes how a chair without proper posture support could impede someone’s pace or concentration. Using all that they were taught, students created various cardboard chair designs that some even used during class to work from their computers.
