SHORT PROJECT - A Reimagined desk chair
Redesigning a chair from my personal environment
At work I am surrounded by L-shaped desks and ergonomic office chairs. These chairs are a mainstay for offices around the world because they are cheap, safe and inoffensive to the eye while fulfilling the need to spend 8 (relatively comfortable) hours a day in front of a computer.
Office chairs are generally adjustable in a multitude of ways to support that variable packaging all human skeletons come in, so tall, small, large or petite the chair ‘should’ be able to accommodate and shift the weight off knees, hips and back. So why is it so common place to see colleagues craning necks, slouched or propped up with elbow on the desk?
Office chairs are generally adjustable in a multitude of ways to support that variable packaging all human skeletons come in, so tall, small, large or petite the chair ‘should’ be able to accommodate and shift the weight off knees, hips and back. So why is it so common place to see colleagues craning necks, slouched or propped up with elbow on the desk?
The Rotating Desk Chair
Avoiding designs that already exist I explored how to utilise the basic office chair and attach a fully functioning desk.
I considered what space we actually use, distances to peripherals and ways to maximise useful areas and remove the excess. This led to a desk attachment that revolves 180° around the user maintaining a lot of the standard office chair functionality. I modelled the design to check the idea works in reality and pleased to find the dimensions work well.
A Sit/Stand Chair
Exploring the alternate idea of correcting posture I decided the most suitable method was to support a standing position. Standing chairs already exist but I explored ways to combine the posture improving effect of the ball, kneeling and saddle style chairs and make it accessible and adjustable to suit all users.
Recalling how it felt to sit at bus stops I remember how those lean-to benches were actually more tiring on the legs than just standing up! I believe this is due to the lack of support on the lower leg so aimed for a standing version of the kneeling chair and making sure there is a solid base and height controls.
Concept Development
Both designs played out well but I chose the rotating desk for further development. It is a bold, machine like design that ticks all the design principles I set myself. The standing chair was a warmer, organic design and equal to task but not as innovative, has accessibility issues for some users with physical needs and still relies on adjustable desks.
Materials / Feasibility
Giving some thought to how the chair would be built. The frame, strength and system for rotating the heavy desk.
A small amount of research suggested the lift mechanism rarely changes to I left out rather than reinvent another component - this would need a means to control within the arm rests to be practical.
Orthographic Views
Continuing with my chair/desk concept I produced an orthographic drawing of front, side and top views of my chair estimating measurements based on my existing furniture.
I gave some thought to section drawings but I found no slices that really supported communication of my design. Instead I produced a perspective drawing to give an angle not yet shown
SketchUp CAD drawing:
As a small project I chose to stop there.
