It’s not exaggerated to state that Mid Century Modern design created the modern office.
When we think about the furniture classics of these spaces: executive chairs, workstations, meeting rooms, they all have been recreated or deeply modified by Mid Century Modern design.
This is not a fortuitous thing. Mid Century Modern design emerged in one pivotal moment of the XX century, when a global revolution about the workplace was taken place. And its principles suited almost perfectly to the world of business and the modern office.
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What Are The Principles Of Mid Century Modern Design?
- Functionality comes first. Design is committed with functionality.
- Forms follows functions
- Experimental use of materials, in the search of efficiency and scales economy.
- Bold choices of color
- Ergonomics at the center of the design
These principles adjust seamlessly with the office furniture requirements. Workspaces are fond of an economic manufacture and ergonomics, demanding endurable quality furniture at affordable prices. Though, this is not the only element to keep in mind.
As we all know, people tend to sit its workplace for prolonged lapses. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, people nowadays tend to be seated at an average of 11 hours daily, which is too much for our bodies. Actually, medical studies suggest that every 45 minutes the worker has to stand and stretch its limbs.
If your workforce doesn’t take the appropriate measures, the sedentary excess can contribute to some severe health risks, like cancer or diabetes.
This is why the ergonomics has such a major role in the design, because it has a direct impact over wellbeing and health of the work force. Let’s share some thoughts on ergonomics.
What Is Ergonomics?
According to the International Ergonomics Association, Ergonomics is a scientific discipline related to the interaction of the human body with other elements of a mechanical system, with the purpose of optimize its wellbeing and the overall performance of the system.
Ergonomics its commonly referred too as Human Factors, though this last term is more used when it comes to social and psychological elements, while Ergonomics, stays in the physical field.
Ergonomics is an applied combination of several sciences: industrial design, biomechanics, physiology, engineering, among others.
Sometimes, the design of a work equipment or a tool can be uncomfortable, or risky to the operator. That can affect its wellbeing or its productivity. Rather than expect people to adapt to the design, Ergonomics explore and applies better ways to adapt this tool or equipment to the human being, making a more safe and comfortable experience, and improving the performance of the particular task.
Ergonomics has to do whether with the operation of complex equipment, like a plane cabin, or with the handling of a single tool, like a screwdriver. It has played a significant role in fields like transport (aviation, automobiles); healthcare and workspaces.
Ergonomics And Our Workplace
One of the fields where Ergonomics had significative advances is the office space. The health issues associated with the prolonged seating in the office, along with posture and another comfort problems, were addressed by several proposals since the 1950s by industrial design and furniture manufactures.
When it comes to chairs, the focal points where most of the designers has developed special features are: Height adjustment; lumbar, back and head support; suspension; arms rest.
Mid Century Modern Design was essential to develop the modern office furniture as we see it nowadays. Designers as Charles and Ray Eames, with its Office and Management series would bring the Ergonomic elements that revolutionize the office chairs and tables. Later, other interior designers like Niels Diffrient with its series Freedom and Liberty would continue with its own evolution of the first prototypes.
The Eames Office Chairs
One popular choice nowadays when it comes to office chairs, what we call now the Eames Office Chairs series was developed in 1958 by Charles and Ray Eames, as a request by other famous Mid Century Modern Designer, Eero Saarinen. The main attributes of the prototypes were the use of aluminum as its structure. In fact, they were referred originally as the Eames Aluminum Group.
As an interesting fact, the original request was for an outdoor chair, but since the very beginning, the couple of couple treated it like an indoor/outdoor project. The chairs were originally manufactured by Herman Miller and they became and instant success that remains today. Today they are commonly refered as Eames Office Chair Replicas due to their huge demand in the market of quality replicas.
Eames Style Office Chair
The original concept made by Charles and Ray, this beautiful and graceful silhouette became an instant classic of its time. Its aluminum stainless chrome structure and soft ribbed pad are designed to provide the best experience when you work and need focus.
Its flexible curvature alignment provides you with the best back support. The height can be monitored through its pneumatic height adjustment with tilt-lock. This chair is commonly named as Eames Style Office Chair Replica, in the replica’s market.
Eames Ribbed Management Chair
An extension of the concept of the Eames Style office, this chair has an extended ribbed pad for better back support, with a flexible suspension. This chair is commonly named too as Eames Management Office Chair Replica, in the replica’s market.
Eames Ribbed Executive Chair
The ultimate presentation of the Ribbed family. It’s the bigger model of the Ribbed office series. As the rest of the series, its five points base tubular steel base, its stainless-steel chromed frame and its Italian aniline leather provides you with the best experience in your seat time, so you can get the best performance of your workday. This chair is commonly named as Eames Executive Office Chair Replica, in the replica’s market.
Eames Softpad Executive Chair
The Softpad Executive Chair is a presentation made for those looking for an extra comfortable sensation. Wrapped in premium Italian aniline leather with big fluffy cushions, you can enjoy the same features of the Ribbed Series with that extra comfort feeling. The Softpad family has two models: Management and Executive. This chair is commonly named as Eames Softpad Office Chair Replica, in the replica’s market.
With a design of excellence, and stamped with a superior craftsmanship, our Eames Softpad Executive Chair is bound to become a focal point in your office through many years of heavy use. You can get this hallmark of design in Barcelona Designs.