Video. Jue Chair's design process
Abstract
The Jue Chair is a visionary fusion of ancient Chinese artistry and cutting-edge structural design. Inspired by the elegant form of the traditional Jue vessel, this award-winning chair embodies cultural heritage through modern innovation. Using the Bi-directional Evolutionary Structural Optimisation (BESO) method, the design team created a lightweight yet robust structure that minimizes material waste, achieving an iconic look that balances strength and elegance. Crafted with large-scale 3D printing and finished with precision, the Jue Chair redefines what’s possible in furniture design—merging tradition, technology, and aesthetic beauty.
A chair designed and manufactured by Prof Mike Xie’s team using the BESO method and 3D printing technology (credits: Albert Li, Jiaming Ma and Mike Xie)
Researchers at RMIT University have recently been awarded the prestigious DNA Pairs Design Award 2024 for their innovative design and fabrication of the Jue Chair. This recognition highlights the team's outstanding work that combines traditional cultural elements with self-developed advanced structural optimisation method and large-scale 3D printing techniques.
The Jue Chair is inspired by the ancient Chinese bronze vessel known as Jue, a ceremonial object symbolizing nobility and prestige. The chair's design offers an abstract interpretation of the Jue's graceful form and symbolic meaning, blending traditional elegance with a sleek, futuristic aesthetic.
Jue Chair: A Fusion of Cultural Heritage and Structural Innovation
The design generation of Jue Chair is driven by the Bi-directional Evolutionary Structural Optimisation (BESO) method, an advanced design generation algorithm developed by the team led by Distinguished Professor Mike Xie AM FTSE. This method enables the automatic removal of inefficient material while strategically adding material where it is most needed to enhance structural performance.
By utilising the BESO method, the team optimized an initial chair model inspired by the Jue element, refining the backrest, armrests, seat and supports to accommodate the weight of an 80 kg adult. The BESO algorithm iteratively redistributed material to improve structural performance while minimising material waste. After the optimisation, the material usage of the Jue Chair is reduced to 27% of the original volume, while sufficient strength of the chair is maintained.
This structural optimisation process not only maximises the material utilisation but also helps create a lightweight and visually striking design that embodies the fusion of tradition and innovation.
Bringing the Jue Chair to Life: Advanced 3D Printing
To manufacture the Jue Chair, the team utilised large-scale 3D printing technology with PLA material. The chair is divided into six segments to achieve the optimal time and budget costs. Interlocking designs are generated to seamlessly assemble the segments and maintain the integrity of the chair. The finished chair undergoes the same post-processing treatments as the traditional furniture, such as sanding, painting and polishing, to obtain a smooth and customised surface quality.
A New Era in Furniture Design
The Jue Chair is a testament to the next generation of furniture design, where computational tools such as BESO enable the creation of products that are both functionally efficient and aesthetically elegant.
With the recognition by the DNA Pairs Design Award 2024, the Jue Chair has become an inspiration for how design, culture and technology can come together to shape the future of the furniture industry.
Designers: Dr Zhi “Albert” Li and Dr Jiaming Ma
Supervisor: Distinguished Professor Yi Min Xie
Publication: Ma, J., Li, Z., Zhao, Z. L., and Xie, Y. M. (2021), “Creating novel furniture through topology optimization and advanced manufacturing”, Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 27(9), pp. 1749–1758, doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-03-2021-0047.
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