nick ross + fraser reid: domestic selections

‘domestic selections’ by nick ross and fraser reid

a project commissioned by creative scotland, young scottish designers nick ross and fraser reid have created a series of chairs called ‘domestic selections.’ drawing from man’s input in evolutionary change over time, the seating collection includes five permutations of the same archetypal seat, altered according to principles of genetic selection. ‘unable to start with a blank canvas, nature must work with what already exists to create improved variants in what is a constant development process,’ note the designers. the application of this fluid method to ‘domestic selections’ enables a never-ending variety of forms, colors, and materials to be used, a working platform that continues to expand. unconstrained by time, the collection is never quite complete, instead a perpetual work in progress.

the original ancestral chair made of solid, untreated pine

the chairs together before they have been developed into their new forms

‘tree of life’ concept drawing

‘untitled #1,’ coated in grey rubber

‘untitled #2,’ dyed with layers of dark blue dye to create an almost black finish

‘untitled #3,’ sanded and coated lightly in carnauba wax

‘untitled #4,’ upholstered in bute fabric

‘untitled #5,’ carved and dyed white

construction process of ‘untitled #1’ and ‘untitled #4’

‘untitled #4’ before upholstery

shaping of ‘untitled #3‘

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions’ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication.