What it does
Morphos is an Industry 5.0-based system that customizes ergonomic chairs using user body data, addressing poor fit and resource waste in mass-produced furniture.
Your inspiration
While studying the furniture lifecycle, I noticed that many chairs are discarded not because they break, but because they simply feel uncomfortable. This insight revealed that the core issue lies in structural mismatch caused by standardized design. It inspired me to rethink furniture through the lens of data and structure. True customization, I realized, should begin deep within geometry and mechanics. The flexible strength of a whale’s tail also sparked ideas for structural language in the chair design.
How it works
Morphos starts with user body data. Through a mobile app, users upload their height, weight, and posture scan. The system selects a base chair model that matches their needs and automatically adjusts its shape to fit their body. It analyzes sitting posture, spine curve, and body proportions to reshape the chair for better comfort and support. To reduce material use without losing strength, the system also fine-tunes the internal structure. Once finalized, the model is sent to a nearby 3D printing facility and made on demand using sustainable materials—avoiding mass production and waste.
Design process
The design began with research into waste across the furniture lifecycle. I found that many chairs are discarded not because they break, but because they feel uncomfortable due to poor fit. This led me to focus on structural personalization—not just changing the appearance, but reshaping the internal support based on user data. Initially, I built chair models from scratch, but the process was slow. So I created a set of “mother models” for different seating postures and use cases. Users choose one, and the system reshapes it using their body data. I used Rhino and Grasshopper for parametric modeling and applied topology optimization (via the BESO algorithm in Ameba) to reduce material use while maintaining strength. We 3D printed a prototype and made iterative changes to seat curves and backrest angles based on user feedback—resulting in better spinal support and comfort. This process built the foundation for a scalable, efficient customization system.
How it is different
What makes Morphos unique is that it’s not just a chair—it’s a system. It integrates body data collection, parametric modeling, topology optimization, and 3D printing into a seamless customization pipeline. Unlike traditional furniture or surface-level custom designs, Morphos delivers structural personalization, ensuring that each chair is tailored to the user’s real body dimensions for better fit and resource efficiency. It also redefines the designer–user relationship. Users can select a mother model, adjust preferences, and contribute usage feedback, forming a closed loop of “customization–use–re-optimization.” This self-evolving logic makes Morphos more adaptive, intelligent, and system-oriented than other furniture solutions.
Future plans
Morphos will evolve into a modular customization platform. Users can scan body data via mobile, select a mother model, and generate personalized structures. Local 3D printing hubs will enable on-demand, low-waste production. We plan to open API access, inviting designers to contribute models and co-build a collaborative ecosystem. Long-term, Morphos aims to bridge body data and product design, offering adaptive solutions in education, healthcare, and workplace settings.
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