A posture correcting meditation stool that is sustainable, portable, and compact.
Inspired by Japanese woodworking.
Whether a beginner or pro, anyone can benefit from using Heikō. The unique angle offered by Heikō allows you to take pressure off your neck and back, and automatically aligns your spine.
H
E
I
K
ō
Made Out of 100% Wood
Sustainable
Portable
Customizable
Renewable
Recyclable
Detail and Use
Every piece of wood is hand picked and cut to give the best look.The current model is made from Cherry. Other woods are offered up on request.
The bottom of every stool is bookmatched to give a sophisticated accent. The middle hinge is designed to give a Japanese feel.
There are no nails or screws on this stool, which minimizes waste and makes it biodegradable.
The middle section of the stool is accented with Shu Sufi Ban (Japanese woodburn finish), making the wood waterproof and scratch-resistant.
Carbon is the basis of all life on Earth. The carbon that results from this treatment will help the stool breakdown if discarded, allowing it to become one with nature anew.
There are three easy steps when it comes to using Heikō
First, pull out the legs from the bottom.
Second, pull out the latch.
Third, lock and you're ready to MEDITATITE.
Design Process
Consideration
Who?
A beginner in meditation or someone who meditates regularly and appreciates the little things in life.
What?
This bench is compact, easy to adjust, lightweight, slick, comfortable, and cost efficient.
When?
Ranges from 5 minutes every few days to many times a day, every day.
Where?
Home, office, classrooms, yoga, picnic.
How is it working?
The bench will be made out of 3 individual parts that fit and lock together to form a stool. The bench can be bent or disassembled to fit into any backpack or gym bag.
How is ergonomics addressed?
The ergonomics are addressed by its easily adjustable design. The two bars bend to create a difference in height. My design is sustainable and is made of 100% wood. The main focuse of my stool is comfort and adjustability.
How is inclement weather handled?
The wood used is very tough, so it would hold better than most wooden stools. In case a component is damaged, all of the pieces are easily replaceable.
What are the material + construction considerations?
The aim is to construct the stool solely from wood. It will be waterproof, flexible, strong. Shock absorption, cleanability, durability, repairability are key features. Easy to take apart and clean, each piece is easily replaceable.
Who are the users? (is there a range of users?)
Anyone can use and benefit from using my meditation stool.
Where the user touches, engages with? What do they gain in return? Why is there a need for this stool?
This stool is needed because it makes meditation much more comfortable, especially for beginners. The stool is very adjustable, takes strain away from the knees, weight off of your feet and it promotes a perfectly aligned spine.
Prototypes
The center piece was my first attempt at an adjustable mechanism which could change the height as well as the angle.
My first goal was to build a basic meditation stool so that I could figure out the basic aesthetics and proportions.
My second goal was to find a way to support the stool and conceal the mechanism within.
By studying a conventional hinges I came up with this type of a foldable mechanism made out of only wood.
The hinge is composed of two identical pieces of wood with the top half cut away and joined by a wooden dowel.
Durig this design process I was able to conceptualize and design the stool mechnism in my head. Using what I discovered through out my research, I built this semi final model. This model solved all of the issues I addressed in my considerations. Then, all I needed was a more concealed locking mechanism.
With the new design the legs now conceal discretely within the seat.
The stool legs are now concealed within the underside. Not only that, it also offers a 20 deegree forward tilt which helps the spine to be in perfect alignment.
The next and hardest part was to figure out a locking mechanism to keep the stool in place for practice.
Final Design
