Multi-disciplinary design firm wHY rethought the traditional drawing bench for a new Studio Art building in Claremont, California.

Design Team

Ben Ott

Bob Dornberger

Gregory Fischer

Dimitri Newman for wHY

Dimitri Newman for wHY

Dimitri Newman for wHY

Dimitri Newman for wHY

Dimitri Newman for wHY

The design challenge with this project was examining existing drawing benches and systematically removing the parts that didn’t work: the uncomfortable flat seat that forces the students to splay their legs for long periods of time.

Our working process was mainly hand-sketching and 2D CAD work. Once the overall shape had been determined and working drawings were produced, we handed over the production to Pomona College Sculpture Faculty Michael O’Malley who led the students to create the benches, 18 in total, as part of the curriculum. While early versions had called for a purchased tractor seat, Michael suggested a sculpted form made from walnut. This collaboration led to a unique solution, using the school’s new CNC machine to carve the laminated walnut blanks.

The skeleton of the bench is narrow where it needs to be and wide at the base for stability. Constructed from glued-up layers of Baltic birch plywood, the skeleton has small slots for a simple dowel system that allows the board carriage and seat to move independently and accommodate a wide variety of drawing styles, angles and body types.

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