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socio bench (process)

‘socio’ is an open ended furniture project that follows the dragon dreaming project management method (John Croft - Gaia University in Western Australia )

pre-forming, storming, forming, norming, transforming and performing

Preforming - source material - spotted on an abandoned parking lot at Passo di Monterolo in the Marches in Italy. awareness and motivation - may the circle be unbroken

Forming - local wood supply from the west coast of norway - gathering information and consideration of alternatives

Storming - as part of a furniture design class at the Intsitue for Design at the University of Bergen - we have steam bent the ribs with the great help of bachelor design students at KMD and Levi Heyda from Kingston College of the Arts and Design in London.

design of a strategy - percieving newly - trailing a pilot

Forming - the preformed sculpture pieces were on display at old the linen mill in innvik as part of the group show ‘Hesten og Plysen’ curated by Veft in connection to the 50 year anniversary of the Norwegian Craft rtist Association - considering of alternatives -

the so called core model, which translates to a 3 dimension torus, is a pattern that Bill Mollison (Permaculture: A Designers' Manual, pub.1988) spoke widely of because of its transformative energy

design of a strategy - inspired by the existing round metal park bench from italy, i am curious to make a wooden version of such design, exploring traditional craft techniques and different forms of collabortion - Storming

‘designing from patterns to details’ is a permaculture design priciple that helps me in this open-ended-hands-on-design-build-with the material-exhibit-refelct-design-work-in-progress-project

testing a pilot - treshold of possibility in context - thinking globally - acting locally

Norming - making decisions - crucial moment - from individual to environment - foto by Thor Brødreskift

implementation - treshold of possibilities in context - from theory to practice -

norming - material - technology - time - space - feedback - form finding - reality check - ergonomy - construction - stabilty - materiality

monitoring progress - action of behaviour in comitment -

material as a co - designer - “rules grow out of parts” -

Performing - acquiring new skills - material propeties - constructive and decorative

Transforming - feedback and celebration - seeing is believing - spatial patterns

results for individuals - judgement - beeing personally

testing and evaluating the bench with design students at KMD in bergen

testing the bench with my capoeira club and then tweaking for improvements

adjustment of curves, distances and heights

Socio consists of two handcrafted wooden benches that combine sculptural form and traditional craft to facilitate sociocratic processes through dialogue, participation, and collective reflection.

Socio explores craft as a social and material process. The project begins with wood as a living material and the workshop as a space for exploration, dialogue, and transformation.

In my practice, objects emerge through a continuous dialogue between idea, material, and use. Drawing, models, craft techniques, and experimentation form an open process in which form develops gradually. This process remains visible in the work through construction, joinery and traces of making—elements often hidden in finished objects.

The work consists of two handcrafted wooden benches developed for sociocratic meetings. They function as a simple spatial structure supporting collective decision-making based on listening, equal participation, and consent. At the same time, the benches hold a sculptural presence, balancing between furniture and sculpture while emphasizing the rhythm, volume, and structural logic of the material.

The benches are constructed using traditional craft techniques, including wood bending through moisture and heat and demountable joinery. These methods allow the structure to remain flexible and reversible while making the process of making legible within the object.

In Socio, the process continues when the benches are used—where the slow processes of material meet human processes of dialogue, reflection, and collective decision-making.

3D model by Hannes Frey

photo by Andreas Dyrdal