My approach to the Sophomore Studio Bench assignment was to combine the hand skills I have learned my first semester within the furniture department, with techniques of machine working from my second semester to investigate public seating. With this bench, I was interested in asking questions about how humans respond to furniture objects within a public space, as well as whether my decisions as a designer and maker will give me the result I intend. 

I wanted to know how subtle, and not so subtle hints in form could direct a person to sit on my bench a certain way, or if social norms will over-ride those suggestions. The "front" of each seat is painted lavender to suggest where to face while sitting. There is also a slight angle in the front of each seat that is not meant to be visible at first, but may suggest to someone to sit closer or towards another person sitting opposite you. 

The detail that wraps around the two seats has a gesture that connects the two seats as if hugging them to bring them together, as well as creates a minimal barrier between people seated. 

Would people be inclined to sit face to face with each other, or would their discomfort sitting by a stranger cause someone to sit in a different position than intended?