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Design, Products January 10, 2013

Selfish Design

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Bill Stumpf once said, “I know this sounds terribly self serving, but I design for myself. Who else am I going to know better than me?”

The outcome of Stumpf’s self-described “selfishness”? Empathic designs that can help everyone feel better as they work.

Stumpf and design partner Jeff Weber turned their own problems with the lack of physical harmony between themselves and their computers into a solution that benefits people who sit all day at a computer. The resulting designs—the Embody Chair and the Envelop Desk—work together to support the wrists, back, and eyes as the sitter moves through a range of postures. This concept, which we call concordance, helps people stay healthy and aligned as they work.

Comments (2)

I’ve been reading a lot lately about how unhealthy it is to sit for much of the day at the office (or anywhere, really), and why standing desks are better for one’s health. What’s your take on this?

Great topic Julie! I have the wonderful opportunity of getting to work here at Herman Miller (opinions are my own), but here is my take:

Standing, yoga ball, chair, what should we be doing while working? There really hasn’t been a definitive answer that I’ve found. What is consistent is the idea that we should be listening to what our body tells us. The products in this posts do allow us to sit and move how we want to, and do so in an ergonomically healthy way!

Studies used to show that we should be sitting perfect straight up and legs should be at a 90 degree angle. Again, data supported it, but it was inconclusive because few people sit that way. My final take and I am in no way a professional, is that being lazy ALL day is bad, so listening to the body and moving around throughout the day is what’s truly important. Thanks Julie!

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