Deniz Tekin

Queering the Pub Chair is project about developing a queer design approach around transforming and ‘queering’ a traditional pub chair to evaluate its impact in queering a masculine public space.

The chair through concepts of transformation and disruption, distorts the ordinary dimensions and materials of common pub chairs and through its seating design, encourages cross-legged sitting which isn’t usually associated with masculinity nor can easily be observed in masculine spaces.

The project explores the value of having a queer design approach and questions: When an object through its form and design is non-conforming, does it help bring a sense of belonging to a queer person feeling like they’re non-conforming as well? Conforming or non-conforming are human attributes, when an inanimate object is non-conforming as well, does it make the human feel like they aren’t the only thing standing out in a space, therefore make them feel like they belong there more?

A queer design approach’s potential to increase queer visibility and inclusivity is tested through putting the chair in pubs and doing primary research by observing people’s interactions with the chair and doing interviews to gather data.