Designing For Vertical Needs: Creating A Ladder Chair For Ergonomic And Space-Saving Solutions
Jan 2026, Vol. 4, No. 1, Issue
Author(s)
Obed Persie Appiah-Kubi (Department of Interior Design and Materials Technology, Faculty of Built and Natural Environment, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana)
Evans Kwadwo Donkor (Sculpture Technology Department, Takoradi Technical University, Takoradi, Ghana)
Abstract
As creative and academic studio spaces grow increasingly constrained, the demand for multi-functional furniture solutions becomes more critical. This study focused on the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a multifunctional ladder chair that addresses vertical access and space-saving needs in Ghanaian educational and workshop environments. Employing a studio-based, practice-led methodology, the study combined the use of sustainable materials, anthropometric data, and hybrid production techniques to produce a user-centred product. The ladder chair was fabricated with mild steel and maple hardwood, merging metalworking and traditional woodworking processes to ensure structural integrity and ergonomic comfort. The assessment after the fabrication evaluated visual appeal, transformation ease, and load stability. Instructors, students and artisans’ observational feedback was thematically analyzed, shedding light on material quality, functional intuitiveness, user safety, space optimization, and educational relevance. Users lauded the ease of the transformation mechanism, compact form, and strong material contrast, signifying the product’s success in achieving functional and spatial objectives. The research reveals that efficient multifunctional furniture contributes to improved space utilization and learner engagement in TVET environments. Beyond its practical design purpose, the ladder chair stands as a meaningful instructional model for project-based learning. Implications emphasize the importance of adaptive furniture in supporting sustainable development, skills training, and institutional design innovation. The research recommends future exploration into modular designs, lightweight materials and broader user testing to improve inclusivity and scalability.
Keywords
Ergonomic design, Hybrid materials, Multifunctional furniture, Space efficiency, Sustainable design.
DOI :
Copyright & Licence
Authors publishing in JAARD retain copyright in their work and grant the journal the right of first publication. Published articles are made available under the Creative Commons licence specified by the journal. Current licence: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Dates
Published: 30th Jan 2026
Received: 30th Sept 2025
Accepted: 24th Nov 2025
Pages : 88-106
Citation
Appiah-Kubi, O. P., & Donkor, E. K. (2026). Designing for vertical needs: Creating a ladder chair for ergonomic and space-saving solutions. International Journal of Arts, Architecture & Design, 4(1), 88–106. https://doi.org/10.62030/2026Janpaper7
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