Binary Furniture

The Binary process worked by expanding the mathematical principles of the 1960s engineering tool ‘Spirograph’, and adding a third dimension. It was first showcased at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts in Gateshead, UK where the bright orange digital desk was located and allowed visitors to the gallery the ability create their own 3D furniture files.

Visitors to the Binary Event were able to draw their digital spirals directly into the binary desk where a computer program tracked the spirals’ creation (speed x time x pressure). The spiral shape produced the unique table surface, and the collected data determined the leg height, depth and overall structure of the object. The limitless nature of the spirals’ creation means that no two tables can be the same.

Once a table design was completed, the final 3D computer file is stored onto the Cohda server, and a password to locate the file was printed by the desk for the creator to download as required.

Once the table files were downloaded they could be 3D printed via various processes, with many printed by our partner FOC (Freedom of Creation) in SLS.

The project was supported by: Arts Council UK, FOC, Newcastle University (Culture Lab), Sunderland University AMAP, Design Event, Wacom