EVENT DETAILS
Workshop
16 May 2026, 10:00 - 16:00VENUE INFORMATION
The Design Museum
224-238 Kensington High St
W8 6AG
Workshop: The Architecture of the Chair with Simone Brewster
BOOKING INFORMATION
£108.00
Discover how to design a chair through narrative, identity and conceptual exploration with designer and artist Simone Brewster. This one-day conceptual workshop includes hands-on creative exercises, a guided tour of Brewster’s PLATFORM exhibition, and a focused study of pieces from the museum’s chair collection to inspire your own original designs.
About
Join designer and artist Simone Brewster for an exploration of what a chair can be. This one-day conceptual furniture design workshop invites you to explore the architecture of the chair through creative experimentation and structured design development. You will learn about alternative design approaches that use narrative, material inspiration, and personal identity as catalysts for generating distinctive seating concepts. Throughout the day, you will work through collage, sketching, speed-designing, and basic technical drawings to transform early ideas into a coherent design direction.
The session includes a guided visit led by Brewster to her PLATFORM exhibition, offering insights into her process and themes. The day also includes a close look at selected pieces from the museum’s chair collection, providing historical grounding and contemporary inspiration.
Combining experimental thinking with core design essentials, this course offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of the UK’s leading voices in narrative-led design, and it’s ideal for emerging designers, creatives, or anyone curious about furniture design. By the end of the workshop, you will have developed the foundations of a unique chair concept and gained the tools to evolve it into a family of designs.
Learning outcomes:
• Narrative-driven concept development
• Using collage as a design tool
• Creative concept representation
• Sketching and speed-designing techniques
• Basic technical drawing for furniture
• How to develop a design collection
• Translating inspiration into structured design development
Please note:
– This is a conceptual design workshop—no furniture fabrication will be undertaken, and model making will be with paper and card.
– All equipment and materials will be provided. Participants may optionally bring personal sketchbooks, preferred pens or pencils, and any images or materials that inspire them.
– Capacity is limited, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment
– This workshop is suitable for adults 18+
