Sella
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
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.
Technical Drawings
The proportions of the step stool were designed to mimic the ergonomic height and width of each step on a staircase. This allows for easy, natural movement when stepping.
Process - Parts
Although I had some woodworking experience, I learned new skills like using dominos, using a router, and making wooden inlays.
Process - Assembly
I used table top clips to attach the step tops, and made small metalworking adjustments to customize the hardware to fit the project needs.
Details
The purple heart inlays emphasize the imperfections in the wood. Their placement mimics the footsteps one would take when using the stool.
The purple paint on the step legs ties back to the purple in the inlays. These purple tones also match with the colors in my bedroom where this stool lives.
Maple wood allowed for this stool to be sturdy, and provided a lovely light color. I used an oil-based finish to emphasize the warmer tones.
