Jemima Lindsay

BA Art and Design

“Is it a bench?” is a piece of social furniture that aims to create a neutral ground between differently minded people and aid the development of young people’s social skills by bringing an element of play to social interactions. The piece should not be defined as a certain type of furniture, as it risks limiting it’s purpose and use, but instead, should be considered a place to play, rest, and socialise. The name of the piece further encourages the user to question and challenge its modularity and multi functionality, continuing the evolution of the piece long after it’s made.

The rounded nature of the shapes used to construct the piece enables it to be used as a seesaw, aiding both children’s development of social skills and allowing adults to reconnect with the act of play, an aspect of life that can be lost as you get older. Additionally, the intended rocking nature of the piece works to cater to neurodiverse individuals who frequently feel restless and fidgety or the need to stim. This piece allows any individual to physically express restless energy in a socially productive and inclusive way.

Although this could be seen as trying to make neurodivergent people more palatable to wider society, I argue that it in fact creates a neutral territory where neurodivergent and neurotypical people can interact by removing the awkwardness of hyperactivity through physical action, and in doing so, normalising it.