The result of decades of meticulous design research

What if a chair could do more than simply minimize the negative effects of sitting? That was the radical idea Jeff Weber and the late Bill Stumpf had in their design studio. Could they design a chair that would truly have positive effects on the body? “You cannot create without empathy,” said Weber, who also designed our Caper chair. “As design has become more technological, we have had to sit in chairs in front of computers for longer periods, just like everyone else. We relate to the problems people have as a result of remaining seated.”

Could we create a chair that is beneficial to health?

Bill Stumpf, who designed our Aeron, Equa, and Ergon task chairs and worked for Herman Miller for more than three decades, brought the idea to us. Could such a chair be designed and built? Early on, we discussed the idea with specialists and tested three hypotheses: Task chairs can be good for health or therapeutic, and not merely neutral.

Dynamic surface pressure in a chair and backrest will provide greater comfort, vitality, and health benefits than non-dynamic surface pressure. Task chairs will be able to achieve postural balance (the balance point in an upright position when our eyes are vertically aligned with the hips) naturally, regardless of the curvature of our spine.