HANDS ON: The Great Chair Hack
What happens when you take a simple object and refuse to accept it at face value?
At The Great Chair Hack, teams of designers, students, artists, engineers, and creative thinkers are given one IKEA chair and three hours to transform it into… anything but a chair.
Presented by the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) and taking place in Piedmont Park during the Dogwood Festival, this high-energy design challenge celebrates ingenuity, resourcefulness, and the power of reimagining everyday objects. Inspired by the global “IKEA© hacking” movement, participants will deconstruct, reconstruct, and reinvent a familiar form—pushing its materials, components, and purpose into entirely new territory.
The results are often surprising, playful, thought-provoking, and occasionally brilliant. Prizes will be awarded for the most inventive hacks.
Rules for the Great Chair Hack:
Teams of 2–4 participants compete, ages 18 years or older.
Each team receives an unassembled IKEA chair.
You have three hours to transform it into something that is not a chair.
Teams are allowed the use of and must supply their own hand tools. Battery operated tools, such as drills and screwdrivers are allowed, but corded tools (think: circular saws) are not.
- You may bring additional materials or go out and purchase supplies during the competition. However, your chair must be built on site at the Atlanta Dogwood Festival.
- Additional materials are allowed, but teams may spend no more than $50.
- No paint.
All builds must take place on site.
- Proper safety gear is required (think: safety glasses).
All participants must sign a waiver upon arrival.
- Application of imagination and creativity is strongly encouraged!
- All participants must be over the age of 18.
How to Participate
Just assemble your own team of 2-4 participants and register here! Space is extremely limited, so be sure to register your dream team for a spot by April 5th!
From 1-3 PM you'll hack your chairs on site at Piedmont Park, and from 3-4 PM a panel of judges will review your work, evaluate your designs, and award prizes.
Know before you go details and precise directions to the competition site will be sent in the lead-up to the Chair Hack.
Registration
$30 per group / $22.50 for Members per group (Groups can be up to 4 people)
Become a MODA Member TODAY for savings on this event and more
Members must log in with their unique login to SimpleTix at check out to receive their discount.
Questions About This Event:
Email Felicia at felicia@museumofdesign.org with any questions.
Accessibility: Designers with different styles of learning or special needs are welcome in MODA public programs. We will be able to most effectively help everyone learn and enjoy this experience if we know about those needs in advance of the program. Please email miranda@museumofdesign.org with questions or information.
Cancellation Policy: MODA reserves the right to cancel a program if the minimum enrollment requirements are not met, but don't worry: should MODA have to cancel, we will gladly issue a full refund to all registrants. If you need to cancel your plans for any reason, we kindly request that you notify us at least 7 days prior to the event start. By doing so, we can process a refund for the ticket cost (minus a small $10 processing fee per class). Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations made less than 7 days before an event.
Photo Disclaimer: Pictures and videos will be captured during MODA public programs and may be published on the official website, social media, and newsletters of the Museum of Design Atlanta. If you do not wish to appear on these platforms, please write to felicia@museumofdesign.org.
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Follow these instructions to update your SimpleTix account:
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- Click 'Forgot My Password'
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