A twist on the traditionally dull folding chair, the ‘Cinch’ is simple to assemble, requiring no screws, glue or tools, but it also comes with a twist: a belt that buckles up to hold everything in place.

The designers from Box Clever in San Francisco note that the belt is both practical (a way to provide critical tension for structural reasons) but also a conversation starter — something to get guests curious and talking.

Coupled with the wood frame, the belt adds an aesthetic dimension, too, repurposing leather (a material often found on furniture) in a fresh way.

The idea, in part, was to build something that would look nice if left out, but that could also be taken apart and stored as needed.

In prototyping the chair, its makers played with having a keystone-like piece that would physically tie it together, but wanted to reduce complexity and ensure durability.

As a result, the final design slots together in intuitive ways, then cinches up with the simple pull of a strap. This holds the legs in place, which would otherwise be a limiting structural factor in minimizing parts and steps.

A wooden seat that needs to wood, glue or screws, but focusing on traditional construction techniques, this design is about the craft-oriented journeyman and not a comfort-driven destination.

Jorge Penadés of Spain emphasizes the act of construction and deconstruction with his Nomadic Chair, which slots together and back apart in two minutes. It utilizes bright metal connectors and tucks away into a simple leather sling for travel.

In both seating and backpack form it is built to stand out from the crowd. Critics will no doubt point out that it is not the most comfortable item to carry or even to sit in, but its assembly involves joinery methods that stress the process over the product. Someone looking for a camping chair is probably still best off buying one made of lightweight aluminum and seat-friendly fabric.

The work is an extension of his Nomadic Studio, a student thesis project proposing larger-scale dwellings employing similar techniques to enable portable and modular home construction.