chair concept – Throughout the modern office landscape across America, many continue to work from home after the COVID-19 pandemic. This has created a need for people to change their home workspace or create an entirely new home office setup. Numerous industries in the US, such as software development, finance, and digital marketing, have allowed their employees to work from home for the foreseeable future. All these industries heavily rely on using a desk with a computer to complete work. Thus, owning a comfortable, ergonomically developed office chair is essential.
This chair concept designed by a College for Creative Studies student exemplifies a modern blend of form and function, seamlessly integrating ergonomic design with aesthetic appeal. This piece of furniture, available in striking blue and elegant red variants, is more than just a seat—it’s a statement of contemporary design.
Designer: Alec Sobol
The Problem with Traditional Office Chairs
Many office chairs rely on dull styling, lack interesting colours, and use basic, cheap materials like plastic and mesh. This creates a market for a more comfort-focused, personalized, premium chair. Despite office chairs being built with ergonomics in mind, they often don’t provide the comfort needed for long working sessions. Most lounge chairs offer more long-term comfort but lack features promoting positive posture. This highlights the need for a more comfortable office chair design that still retains necessary ergonomics.
The challenge during the development of this project was combining the best aspects of lounge chairs and office chairs. From the beginning, the chair had to retain all the adjustability features of a typical office chair, such as height, depth, and reclining. During the ideation process, various forms and shapes were experimented with, aiming to create something that naturally formed to a person’s back and arms in a resting position.
At first glance, the chair’s ergonomic design is evident. The high backrest offers ample support, contouring to the natural curve of the spine. This design ensures that users maintain a healthy posture, reducing strain during long periods of sitting. The addition of a headrest further enhances comfort, supporting the neck and head to prevent fatigue.
Inspired by racing seats and traditional armchairs, the design concluded with a chair that wraps around and grasps the user. The backrest and armrests were combined into one large unit, tightly holding the user in place while providing ergonomic comfort. This design choice allowed retaining the necessary adjustability needed for an office chair while maintaining the aesthetics and comforting feel of a lounge chair. An adjustable headrest was also incorporated for further adjustability.
The chair’s visual design is equally impressive. The smooth, sweeping lines of the backrest and seat create a harmonious flow, contributing to the chair’s sophisticated look. The colour options—deep blue and refined red—are both bold and subdued, making them suitable for a variety of settings, from professional offices to stylish home studios. Crafted with high-quality materials, the chair promises durability and longevity. Premium and sustainable materials like aluminium, wood, cotton, denim, and wool were chosen, using as few plastic parts as possible. Research indicated that many young people are more willing to invest in well-built, sustainable, long-lasting products rather than cost-effective ones. Offering a variety of materials and colour options was essential, allowing people to choose from cotton, denim, and wool finishes with four colour options for each material.
Beyond its visual and ergonomic attributes, the chair includes several functional features that enhance its usability. The base is equipped with smooth-rolling casters, allowing for easy mobility across various floor types. The height-adjustable seat ensures that users can customize their sitting position for optimal comfort. Additionally, the chair likely includes a swivel function, providing flexibility and ease of movement. This project allowed for further development of a personal style while catering to the needs of others. The design retained important adjustability features needed for an office chair, combined with the luxurious feel and aesthetics of a lounge chair.
Overall, this innovative approach to office chair design redefines comfort and ergonomics in the modern home office.
About Designer
Alec Sobol is a student studying product design at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. He’s been interested in design since he was a child. Over time, his focus shifted from traditional art to design.