Herman Miller Workchair Series

Herman Miller Workchair Series

Herman Miller Workchair Series

Over the coming weeks I will be writing a series on a variety of Herman Miller Workchairs. This week I will be discussing the Herman Miller “Embody” workchair. According to Herman Miller this chair is so smart that sitting in it actually helps you think. The chair designed by Bill Stumpf and Jeff Weber aimed to solve the problem of the lack of physical harmony between people and the technology they use. The two men with the help of physicians and PhDs in the fields of physical therapy, ergonomics and vision developed this chair. After a lot of research the first prototypes were developed. Stumpf and Weber were given feedback (good and bad!) from experts who sat in the chairs. Researchers conducted laboratory experiments involving kinematics, preferred postures, pressure distribution, seated tasks, and metabolics. These guided the development of Embody and confirmed its very positive health benefits. The chair itself has the ability to distribute your weight evenly while still supporting the smallest movements that your body makes. By reducing seated pressure and encouraging freedom of movement, Embody allows blood and oxygen to flow more freely, which in turn helps to keep you focused. Herman Miller state that “Sitting is bad for you. Embody is good for you.”