Ergonomic

Etymology of
Office Chair
A case analysis to the ergonomic development of office chair through
out the years.

Batisla-on, Angel Mae R.

March 18, 2022
2IE-A | IEP106
Objectives:
• To examine the historical development of ergonomics on office chairs over
the years and it’s application to industrial engineering.
• Understand the philosophical underpinnings of ergonomics, the technical
and human science knowledge bases of it.
• To examine the method of ergonomics used to develop the function of an
office chair.

Introduction:
Examining the etymology of the office chair is similar to looking at how our
lifestyles have changed over the years. As our society progressed toward
innovation, industrial enterprises were forced to adapt their work environments
and develop new technologies to assist their workers. Body-conscious sittings
were used to assist craftspeople accomplish their work more efficiently as early
as 3,000 B.C. They were three-legged stools with concave seats inclined
forward, much like our modern-day ergonomic office chairs and home office
chairs, which are designed to improve sitting posture. [1]

Ergonomics is designed to improve circulation of blood to the legs and

provide spinal support. It also included more adjustable elements, allowing for a
more customized comfort experience. Improperly sitting for too long has a wide
range of potential adverse effects, ranging from poor posture and difficulty
thinking to organ dysfunction and soft bones. Office chair was intended to
address this fundamental issue faced by all office workers who work long hours.
Today’s office worker spends more than 10 hours per day at work, much of this
are spent on a chair, which make the searching for the right blend of form and
function in an office chair more important than ever before.
Etymology of Office Chair

Office Chair Purpose

(Functionality, Adjustability, Understandability,
Physical Fit)
‘Integra Chair’ by The ‘Integra’ chair was the first single-piece
Charles Furey moulded polypropylene chair. It was developed for
Sebel by Charles Furey in 1973, and it received the
Australian Design Award in 1977. [2]
Furey’s commitment to ergonomic principles and
Sebel’s innovative production methods ensured the
success of the chair which is lightweight,
comfortable, durable yet inexpensive and can be
stacked up to 15 high. The Integra range comes in a
variety of colours and is also available in a model
with armrests.
‘Hobnob Chair’ by The 'Hobnob' chair is one of Charles Furey's (1917-
Charles Furey 2009) most recognizable designs for Sebel, a firm
founded in Sydney in 1951 by Harry Sebel (1915-
2008). [3]
The low-maintenance 'Hobnob' chair was originally
created for usage in clubs and hotels and was
engineered to survive regular commercial use. The
contour moulded seat shells were ergonomically
developed, and numerous 'Hobnob' variants were
upholstered for added comfort, in contrast to Sebel's
single-piece moulded 'Integra' chair. The chair was
made in two versions: with armrests, like this one, or
without, and with various leg styles over the years.
‘Aeron Chair’ by Bill Strumpf and Don Chadwick, an American
Bill Stumpf and industrial design team, created the concept in 1994.
 Charles Chadwick [4]
With its innovative multiple adjustments for height,
tilt, armrest, and lumbar positions, the 'Aeron' can
offer the user a range of seating positions for various
functions, while its revolutionary new 'Pellicle' open-
weave polyester seat and back covering provide
even support to the body on a 'breathable' surface.
Table 1. Etymology of Office Chair

Discussion:
The year 1976 marked a turning point in office chair evolution, as
designers began to think beyond aesthetics to examine how better designs may
benefit the wellness of office workers. [5] The office chairs we use on a daily
basis—and often take for granted—are the result of a century-long process
influenced by both design trends and socioeconomic concerns. Building the best
office seats for back support and back discomfort became a status symbol, as
did possessing the best ergonomic chair. However, office chairs are classified as
a particular type of furniture since they usually include wheels, lumbar support,
and a load-bearing gas-lift leg, all of which are meant to provide workers with the
healthiest, most comfortable seat imaginable. Industrial designers have been
coming up with ergonomic solutions to counteract the renowned dangers of
sitting for decades, resulting in a dizzying number of forms and alternatives.
Inventors have been trying to figure out a better method to get things done while
seated for millennia, from ancient Egyptian artisans to Charles Darwin, who
invented the first modern office chair. [6]
Figure 1.1. Integra Chair
The ‘Integra’ Chair, designed by Charles Furey
for the Sebel company in the 1970s, was one of the
first office chairs. This chair is designed to resist severe
use while staying lightweight. Because the chairs are
molded in one piece, you won’t have to worry about
finished components coming free. These seats can be stacked as well. Even
though it was one of the first chairs in the 1970s, this chair is constructed of wood
or plastic, and sitting for long periods of time can cause back pain.
Figure 1.2. ‘Hobnob’ Chair
Charles Furey created the 'Hobnob' chair in
accordance with the Integra chair. Unlike the Integra
chair, which is made of wood or plastic, the
'Hobnob' chair is made of high resilient foam
padding on fully upholstered styles. The 'Hobnob'
chair has been designed to resist the rigors of
business use. High-traffic areas, such as schools,
universities, and companies, are ideal.
Figure 1.3. ‘Aeron’ chair
The 'aeron' chair was developed by Bill
Stumpf and Charles Chadwick for Herman Miller
Company in 1994. This chair allows the user to
recline or sit upright without having to make any
separate adjustments. The chair is thus one of the
first workplace seating designs to fit the varied
duties of today's office worker; its numerous
adjustment mechanisms enable the user to tailor
the chair to the task at hand as well as specific body heights and weights. Apart
from its unique ergonomic and technological improvements, the ‘Aeron’chair was
designed and manufactured with environmental issues in mind. The chair is
made out of recycled materials and is built to last far longer than typical office
chairs. Despite being conceived in the early 1990s, the ‘Aeron’ has set a new
standard for office chair design with its technological and ergonomic
advancements. It will be remembered as a milestone of twentieth-century design,
and it will have a considerable impact on the direction of design and technology
in the twenty-first century.
References:
[1] P-Themes, “The Evolution of the Office Chair,” Atwood Pte Ltd, 19-Oct-
2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.atwood.com.sg/blogs/news/the-
evolution-of-the-office-chair. [Accessed: 17-Mar-2022].

[2] J. Campbell, “’Integra’ chair by sebel,” MAAS Collection, Sep-2021.

[Online]. Available: https://collection.maas.museum/object/68026.
[Accessed: 17-Mar-2022].

[3] J. Campbell, “’hobnob’ armchair made by sebel,” MAAS Collection, Sep-

2021. [Online]. Available: https://collection.maas.museum/object/68036.
[Accessed: 17-Mar-2022].

[4] “’Aeron’ chair by Bill Stumpf,” MAAS Collection, 2021. [Online]. Available:
https://collection.maas.museum/object/8123. [Accessed: 17-Mar-2022].

[5] A. Blitchok, “The evolution of the office chair,” VERTDESK SHOP, 11-Jun-
2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.btod.com/blog/2016/11/15/the-
evolution-of-the-office-chair/. [Accessed: 17-Mar-2022].

[6] A. Quito, “How well do you know your office chair?,” Quartz, 10-Aug-2018.
[Online]. Available:
https://qz-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/qz.com/work/1351903/the-history-
of-the-office-chair/amp/?
amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw
%3D%3D#aoh=16475591045754&referrer=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https
%3A%2F%2Fqz.com%2Fwork%2F1351903%2Fthe-history-of-the-office-
chair%2F. [Accessed: 17-Mar-2022].
Appendices:
Plagiarism Check:
Objective and Introduction:

Etymology of Office Chair:

Discussion: