Woody
A stool for short-term sitting
Woody is a small, active stool specifically created to help parents comfortably participate in floor child play. It eliminates the discomfort of sitting directly on the floor, allowing parents to stay engaged and close to their child's activities.
To accommodate different adults, the stool includes adjustments in height, ensuring every parent can find an ergonomic position. The seat itself is movable, which is key for adapting to various play scenarios—it lets the parent easily change their position or reach without interrupting the flow of the game.
Woody is designed to last. Its longevity means that once the child transitions away from regular floor play, the stool continues to be useful. It can be effortlessly repurposed by the child as a reliable, appropriately sized stool for use at children's tables, desks, or play areas.
The goal of this design project is to create a simple seat for short-term sitting specifically for adults. This chair addresses a common problem: the uncomfortable or painful body positions often experienced by parents when they engage in floor play with their children. By providing a comfortable solution, I aimed to support and encourage this interaction between the parent and the child during playtime.
The final solution is a functional stool constructed from three components. These parts work together to form the complete structure: the lower part, which serves as the stable base; the middle section, which integrates the mechanism allowing for height adjustments; and the third part, which is the seat itself.
Once the child outgrows floor play or the parent's constant presence is no longer needed, the chair transitions into a piece of furniture the child can use independently when sitting at a children's table.
