In-Person at the Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park
Must be 18 to Enter
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 Atlanta 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.
How to Participate:
Just assemble your own team of 2-4 participants and register! Space is extremely limited, so be sure to register your dream team by April 5.
Rules for the Great Chair Hack Competition:
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.
Registration: $30.00 per team | $22.50 per team for MODA members
Become a MODA Member TODAY for savings on this event and more
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The Museum of Design Atlanta is conveniently located in the Midtown Arts District, right across the street from the Woodruff Arts Center at 1315 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30309.
MODA is located on the ground floor of the 1315 Peachtree Building. The building is a mix use site and is shared by MODA, the Peachtree Public Library, and Perkins+Will.
MODA resides on the land of the Mvskoke (Muscogee / Creek) people.
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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 applicable). 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.
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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 leslie@museumofdesign.org with questions or information.