INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Z Work Chairs Designed for You TM
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix How do you sit? That s a question you re unlikely to ask; it s one we never stop asking. We ve been studying how people sit for more than 60 years. We turn that research-based knowledge into the best work chairs in the world.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating The search for the next advance, while incorporating innovations that have come before, has marked the Herman Miller problem-solving, person-centered approach to chair design for over 60 years.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating Eames Molded Plywood Chair Charles and Ray Eames, 1946 Charles and Ray Eames began experimenting with molding plywood in 1941 as part of their search for new ways to create three-dimensional forms. By inventing a new method for molding plywood, they found a creative use for a common material that allowed them to shape a chair to the contours of the body. It also set a precedent for always putting the person at the center of the design process.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating Ergon 3 Work Chair Bill Stumpf, 1976, updated 1988, 1995 In 1965, designer Bill Stumpf began researching how people sit at work. Increasing use of office equipment by the growing number of white collar workers fostered a tendency to sit longer, which caused back and neck pain. In designing Ergon, Stumpf applied the principles of ergonomics. This made Ergon the first chair to fit both person and task and allow postural change. It also introduced the science of ergonomics to the contract furniture industry.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating Equa 2 Work Chair Bill Stumpf & Don Chadwick, 1984 The Equa chair design began its evolution in 1979. Early prototypes showed that by using an H-shaped cut-out the seat and back could act independently, flexing separately to respond automatically to a person s movements and postures. Inherent in Equa s design was a new idea: Everyone regardless of rank or status deserves a good chair. This approach broke with the tradition of designing chairs for a particular function.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating Aeron Work Chair Bill Stumpf & Don Chadwick, 1994 The Aeron chair was the first departure from foam and fabric in office chair design. Its patented, breathable Pellicle suspension material lets heat and moisture dissipate, hence the chair s name, Aeron, adapted from the verb aerate, to supply with air. Another advance the Kinemat tilt mechanism added comfort by supporting the body s natural linkages at the hips, knees, and ankles and in all positions.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating Mirra Work Chair Studio 7.5, 2003 Mirra was the first chair to provide zoned support in its back design. It was also the first commercial furniture product developed from the outset according to Cradle-to-Cradle SM principles. While a consideration of sustainability had been present in earlier Herman Miller chair designs, the work on Mirra established a new standard and set a precedent for subsequent designs.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating Celle Work Chair Jerome Caruso, 2005 Each cell in a Celle chair acts like the egg-crate foot bed of some shoes, but with an important difference: Cells are suspended by a system of loops to achieve remarkable pliability. As Herman Miller chairs have done in the past, Celle reimagines a rigid material, in this case polypropylene, in an innovative way.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating Embody Work Chair Jeff Weber & Bill Stumpf, 2008 Herman Miller and its university partners conducted laboratory experiments on kinematics, preferred postures, pressure distribution, seated tasks, and metabolics. This work guided Weber and Stumpf in the development of Embody and confirmed its health-positive benefits: It allows blood and oxygen to flow more freely in the lower extremities, so the heart works easier and beats fewer times per minute. That, in turn, helps people stay focused and alert.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating Setu Multipurpose Chair Studio 7.5, 2009 In 1965, designer Bill Stumpf began researching how people sit at work. Studio 7.5 advanced the science of dematerialization with a thorough examination of every component of a chair. This is most evident in Setu s Kinematic Spine. A combination of flex and strength, the spine eliminates the need for a tilt mechanism by mimicking the synchronized movement needed to fully support the body in any reclined or upright position. By incorporating work-chair attributes into a multipurpose chair, Setu redefined expectations for the category.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Advancing the Art and Science of Seating SAYL Work Chair Yves Béhar, 2010 Yves Béhar pushes the boundaries of technology and design to make both more attainable. Inspired by the principles of the suspension bridge, in which each component is refined to its essential function, Béhar created SAYL with a Y-Tower that supports an unframed back made of 3D Intelligent suspension material. Each element of the chair is in its essential form, which reduces material requirements and weight that, in turn, lessens costs.
Work Chairs No matter what posture you re in, you ll sit comfortably with proper support in our work chairs. They re designed to make you feel so good you ll be unaware of anything except the work you re focusing on.
Aeron Overview Highlights Designers Materials
Aeron Overview Studying how people sit, Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick noted that heat and moisture buildup from sitting for long periods are major factors in causing discomfort. Their design for the Aeron chair solves the problem with a patented, breathable suspension material that lets heat and moisture dissipate. At the same time, the material gives your body dynamic support as you move. Aeron product page
Aeron Highlights Pellicle is a patented suspension material that redefined the look and function of work chairs. It naturally conforms to your body, providing varied degrees of support and eliminating pressure points wherever your body contacts it. PostureFit supports the way the pelvis tilts naturally forward, decreasing muscle fatigue and improving your endurance, even when sitting for hours on end.
Aeron Designers Designers Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick analyzed the pressure distribution maps of hundreds of sitters. They used the data to design a chair that provides dynamic support for people of different proportions.
Aeron Materials Honesty and innovation in materials are the foundations of design at Herman Miller, and they are hallmarks of our work chairs. Visit hermanmiller.com/materials to see our complete textile and materials offering and application information.
Embody Overview Highlights Designers Materials
Embody Overview Embody began when Jeff Weber and Bill Stumpf saw an unsolved problem: the lack of physical harmony between us and our technology. They came up with a radical idea: design an agile, health-positive chair that benefits both body and mind. The result is Embody. Its design features have been shown in clinical tests to lower heart rates and stimulate blood and oxygen flow. That, in turn, helps people stay focused and alert. Embody product page
Embody Highlights Embody s back is a central spine that joins rib-like H-flexors and Pixelated Support TM to create a dynamic surface that mimics the natural movement of your back. As you twist and turn, Embody moves with you. Embody s narrow upper back allows arms and shoulders to move freely, letting you breathe deeper. The Backfit TM adjustment lets the chair s back embrace your spine s unique curvature, holding your head in alignment to your technology and giving you continuous support as you change postures.
Embody Designers To design Embody, Jeff Weber and Bill Stumpf augmented their insights with those from experts in biomechanics, physical therapy, vision, and ergonomics.
Embody Materials Honesty and innovation in materials are the foundations of design at Herman Miller, and they are hallmarks of our work chairs. Visit hermanmiller.com/materials to see our complete textile and materials offering and application information.
SAYL Overview Highlights Designer Materials
SAYL Overview People at their best live unframed, going beyond expectations to surprise and delight us. With SAYL, we set out to design and build a chair that gives form to that spirit, making a chair that is as affordable as it is inventive. Inspired by the principles of suspension bridges, the frameless back of the SAYL work chair encourages a full range of movement while the suspension back material keeps you cool. SAYL product page
SAYL Highlights The chair s ArcSpan TM along with the arm structure and tilt mechanism are fused into a single triangulated part. Its strength reduces material, weight, and costs. SAYL s Y-Tower TM supports a full-suspension back that is literally frameless, providing healthy support and encouraging movement. Varying degrees of support are molded directly into the 3D Intelligent TM suspension back material. Tension is greater in transition areas between thorax, lumbar, and sacrum. Hinge points allow these areas to flex and support the healthy, forward rotation of the pelvis.
SAYL Designer Designer Yves Béhar found inspiration for SAYL in the principles of suspension bridges, like the Golden Gate bridge near his home in San Francisco.
SAYL Materials Honesty and innovation in materials are the foundations of design at Herman Miller, and they are hallmarks of our work chairs. Visit hermanmiller.com/materials to see our complete textile and materials offering and application information.
Mirra Overview Highlights Designers Materials
Mirra Overview Mirra evolved from the vision of the designers at Studio 7.5 for a chair that reacts to what people do. Essential to their concept was a chair that acts like a second skin, a shadow of the sitter. From this idea, Mirra s passive adjustability was born. Just sit on it, and it fits. A few, highly intuitive adjustments let you fine-tune the fit even more. Mirra product page
Mirra Highlights The FlexFront seat edge adjusts the depth of the seat without moving the seat pan so lower back support is always there. The AireWeave TM suspension seat distributes your body pressure evenly and keeps you cool. The patented Harmonic TM tilt mechanism keeps resistance consistent as you recline for a smooth, balanced feel.
Mirra Designers When Studio 7.5 undertook the design of Mirra, sustainability was a criterion from the start. That resulted in a work chair that is 96 percent recyclable with no PVC.
Mirra Materials Honesty and innovation in materials are the foundations of design at Herman Miller, and they are hallmarks of our work chairs. Visit hermanmiller.com/materials to see our complete textile and materials offering and application information.
Celle Overview Highlights Designer Materials
Celle Overview The Celle chair evolved from a vision for a highly engineered, intelligent surface that could provide superior comfort and support. The result is Celle s exclusive Cellular Suspension. Its cells and connecting loops are engineered to provide the perfect flex map for supporting your body. They form and reform with your movements, as well as letting air flow through to keep you comfortable. Celle product page
Celle Highlights Celle s seat and back let air flow through, keeping the skin temperature consistent. An optional upholstered version of the seat is also available. A passive PostureFit feature supports the way the pelvis tilts naturally forward, so your spine stays properly aligned. Celle s full range of adjustments enable individuals up to 350 pounds to fine-tune the fit to his or her preferences.
Celle Designer Jerome Caruso, designer of the Celle chair, is and has been Sub- Zero s first and only designer for more than two decades. With both chair and appliance, sensitivity to the person is the essential design insight Caruso brings to his work.
Celle Materials Honesty and innovation in materials are the foundations of design at Herman Miller, and they are hallmarks of our work chairs. Visit hermanmiller.com/materials to see our complete textile and materials offering and application information.
Equa 2 Overview Highlights Designers Materials
Equa 2 Overview The idea of equality is reflected in more than Equa s name. It is seen most clearly in its one-piece shell with an H-shaped cut-out that allows the seat and back to act independently, flexing in response to the body s movements. Three identically proportioned chair sizes make performance equally available to the broad range of sizes and shapes that characterize a diverse working population. Equa 2 product page
Equa 2 Highlights Equa s design caters to people who prefer the comfort of an upholstered chair and design options that an extensive materials offering brings. Sitting in an Equa chair, you have no pressure beneath your thighs because of its waterfall front edge. Crafting the shell of fiberglassreinforced polyester resin and using thermoplastic molding creates a part that is strong and flexible.
Equa 2 Designers Both Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick believed that everyone regardless of size, shape, or status deserves a good, ergonomically supportive chair. This belief took shape in the Equa chair.
Equa 2 Materials Honesty and innovation in materials are the foundations of design at Herman Miller, and they are hallmarks of our work chairs. Visit hermanmiller.com/materials to see our complete textile and materials offering and application information.
Ergon 3 Overview Highlights Designer Materials
Ergon 3 Overview In the design for Ergon, Bill Stumpf applied the principles of ergonomics, the study of the relationship between workers and their environment. This resulted in the first chair to fit the person and the task and allow postural change and movement. Ergon s size choices ensure the fit is right for a wide range of people in today s workforce. Ergon 3 product page
Ergon 3 Highlights The contours of Ergon resulted from research into the effects of chairs and the seated posture on the body s circulatory system, muscles, and bones. Their design provides instant seated support and comfort throughout the day. Herman Miller developed a method to shape foam through a proprietary injection process for the Ergon seat and back. Ergon accepts a wide variety of textile choices, including vinyl, high performance fabrics and customer s own material choices.
Ergon 3 Designer Bill Stumpf s design for the Ergon chair came after 10 years of research into how people really sit when they work. He focused on understanding the motions, actions, and posture patterns of people performing various tasks.
Ergon 3 Materials Honesty and innovation in materials are the foundations of design at Herman Miller, and they are hallmarks of our work chairs. Visit hermanmiller.com/materials to see our complete textile and materials offering and application information.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Comparing Work Chairs To make comparisons easier, we have summarized here some of what makes each of our work chairs unique.
INTRODUCTION art & science of seating chairs matrix Aeron Embody SAYL Mirra Celle Equa 2 Ergon 3 User Needs Population Range Maximum User Weight Thermal Comfort Rating Ergonomic Support Rating 1 st 99 th 300lbs / 136kg 2 nd 98 th 300lbs / 136kg 5 th 98 th 350lbs / 159kg 5 th 95 th 300lbs / 136kg 5 th 95 th 350lbs / 159kg 5 th 95 th 300lbs / 136kg 5 th 95 th 300lbs / 136kg Vocabulary Work Chair Side Chair Stool Ergonomic Highlights Height Range Adjustable Seat Adjustable Arms Adjustable Lumbar Support Tilt Mechanism 14 3 / 8 " 20 7 / 8 " Synchronous (Kinemat) 15" 22" Synchronous 15" 22" Synchronous 15" 21 1 / 2 " Synchronous (Harmonic) 15" 21 1 / 4 " Synchronous (Harmonic) 15 1 / 2 22 1 / 4 Knee Tilt 15 1 / 2 " 22 1 / 2 " Knee Tilt DfE Recyclable MBDC Cradle-to-Cradle GREENGUARD level 94% Silver Certified 3 95% Silver Certified 3 93% Silver Certified 3 96% Gold and Silver Certified 3 99% Gold and Silver Certified 3 86% Certified 1 84% Certified 1 All Herman Miller work chairs are covered by our 12-year, 3-shifts, parts and labor, all components included.
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