Ianthe
Objective: Design and create a step stool with specific ergonomic constraints and strong aesthetic value.
Skills: sketching, wood-working, using a router, wooden inlays, creating and using custom hardware, finishing and painting wood, Fusion 360 modeling
Materials: maple wood, purple heart wood inlays, screws and table top clips
Timeline: 3 weeks
Date: Fall '25
The problem
In my room, I have a shelf in my closet that I cannot reach, and I have a high bed that is difficult to get into. A step stool would help me climb into bed easier, and can be easily moved to the closet to access hard-to-reach shelves.
Sketches
With these sketches, I primarily explored ratios between the height, width, and length of the stool, as well as joinery details to define the final design direction.
Fusion Model and Technical Drawings
Process
Highlights and new skills
I adjusted proportions of the step stool to mimic the ergonomic height and width of each step on a staircase. This allows for easy, natural movement when stepping.
Although I had some woodworking experience, I learned new skills like using dominos, using a router, and making wooden inlays.
I used table top clips to attach the step tops, and made small metalworking adjustments to customize the hardware to fit the project needs.
