Ergonomic Study of Task Chairs RYAN CLARK AND JACOB NEIDLINGER Analysis of Knoll RPM and Knoll Generation Chairs
Ergonomic Study of Task Chairs
RYAN CLARK AND JACOB NEIDLINGER
Analysis of Knoll RPM and Knoll Generation Chairs
ContentsContentsContentsContents
Introduction
Background on Ergonomics
Design Thinking
Case Study
General Discussion
References
IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction
Objective
The main objective of project one is to
compare the ergonomic properties of
three different task chairs. Two are from
Knoll, a fairly expensive and quality
oriented furniture company, and the other
from the more affordable office
furniture/supply company, Staples.
When completed, project one should
present what properties best represent a
well-functioning ergonomic design and
what does not meet these standards.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Background on ErgonomicsBackground on ErgonomicsBackground on ErgonomicsBackground on Ergonomics
Definition
Ergonomics is the study of how effectively a
person works in his or her work space. It relates
to making the object functional in terms of the
worker, rather than making the worker
functional in terms of the object(s). Ergonomic
efficiency allows the user of the product to
work to the best of their ability and with as
much ease as possible.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Background on ErgonomicsBackground on ErgonomicsBackground on ErgonomicsBackground on Ergonomics
Importance
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Ergonomics strives to provide
a safe area away from MSDs.
MSDs are Musculoskeletal
Disorders, which are caused by
repetitive wear and tear on
joints, sensitive nerve tissue,
muscles, and tendons. A well
designed ergonomic chair
would work to prevent MSDs
by allowing for good sitting
position, one that does not
strain the tendons, joints, and
so on and allows those areas
to be at their strongest.
Ergonomics works against
presenteeism and
absenteeism. Presenteeism is
the act of coming to work and
distracting the others around
you, often resulting in poor
performance on the day, and
absenteeism is the tendency
to habitually miss work.
Ergonomics should be used in
design to counteract these
problems, allowing the office
to save money and keep a
productive workload .
Background on ErgonomicsBackground on ErgonomicsBackground on ErgonomicsBackground on Ergonomics
Elements of Good ErgonomicsSupport ActivityAllow for occasions of
interaction and
collaboration, while also
times to interact with
technology.
Support a Person’s BodyAccommodate a range of
heights and weights, while
providing opportunity for
adjustment.
Promote MovementEncourage the body to
move in natural ways, and
allow for easy movement
with the body.
Enable Performance Facilitate, support, and
enable constantly
improving performance
Be Easy to UseProvide easy adjustments
that are simple and easy to
use. It should not require
too much instruction.
Do no HarmProvide soft edges,
comfort, and no stress/pain
on the body. It should also
not harm the environment
around it .
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Design ThinkingDesign ThinkingDesign ThinkingDesign Thinking
History of Knoll
Knoll has roots in the Bauhaus Movement of 1919.
Hans Knoll followed his father Walter Knoll, who
closely followed the Werkbund movement that
complimented the Bauhaus as being a place to bring
together art, design, and industry.
Knoll was founded by Hans Knoll in 1938. He founded
the company in New York City, alongside his wife,
Florence. Florence took over the company when
Knoll died in 1955. Its headquarters are now located
in East Greenville, Pennsylvania.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Design ThinkingDesign ThinkingDesign ThinkingDesign Thinking
Heritage of Knoll
Knoll holds and sells the designs of some of the most
noted furniture to date. This collection includes:
The productions rights of the Hardoy Chair, designed by
Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy, were acquired by Knoll in 1947.
Exclusive manufacturing and sales rights to Mies van der
Rohe’s furniture, best known for the Barcelona chair of
1929, were given to Knoll in 1953.
The Tulip Chair, designed by Eero Saarinen, was
commissioned by the company in 1956.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Design ThinkingDesign ThinkingDesign ThinkingDesign Thinking
The RPM
Designed by Who
Carl Magnusson
Designed When
2000
Key Idea/Concept
The design itself was inspired by the
Vespa Scooter. The fabrics are made
from race technologies. It was made for
the more traditional worker with a
more modern ergonomic design.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Design ThinkingDesign ThinkingDesign ThinkingDesign Thinking
The Generation
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Designed by Who
Formway Design
Designed When
2009
Key Idea/Concept
The philosophy behind the chair was “sit
how you want, free to move.” Formway
wanted to abolish the idea that there was
only one way to sit in a chair. It strived to
provide both freedom of movement and
continuous support simultaneously.
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Method
The two Knoll chairs were
compared against the Staples
Lane chair. The chairs were sat
in and evaluated by their
ergonomic features and overall
design. The goal is to compare
the affordable task chair to the
ergonomic chairs, and see if the
price difference is worth it. This
comparison was conducted
using the Bellinger-Haworth
Scale, shown right.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Process
We were instructed to each
sit in the chairs and
evaluate its ergonomic
features: How easy was it to
adjust height, lumbar
support, arm rests, etc? We
also compared the ability of
interaction with others, the
reclining features, the ease
of movement, and comfort.
In a nutshell, we were to
learn the chair from sitting
in it, and evaluate the ease
of use and movement.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Data: Chair Features
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average
Seat Height Adjustability 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Seat Pan Adjustability 1 1 1 5 5 5 5 5 5
Seat Pan Angle Adjustability 2 4 3 5 5 5 5 5 5
Seat Backrest Adjustability 2 2 2 5 5 5 5 5 5
Arm and Shoulder Clearance 3 5 4 5 4 4.5 5 5 5
Buttocks Clearance 5 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5
Lumbar Support Adjustability 3 1 2 5 5 5 5 5 5
Armrest Height Adjustable 1 1 1 5 5 5 5 5 5
Distance between Armrests 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Total 27 27 27 45 44 44.5 45 45 45
Staples Lane Chair Knoll RPM Knoll Generation
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Data: Chair Comfort
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average
Waterfall Edge Behind Knees 4 5 4.5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Seat Pan has Soft Edges 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Seat Pan is Comfortable 5 4 4.5 5 4 4.5 5 5 5
Chair's Backrest has Soft Edges 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Chair's Backrest is Comfortable 4 4 4 3 4 3.5 5 5 5
Lumbar Support is Comfortable 3 4 3.5 5 4 4.5 5 5 5
Armrests are Padded 5 5 5 4 2 3 5 3 4
Soft Fabric 5 5 5 2 4 3 3 3 3
Total 36 37 36.5 34 33 33.5 38 36 37
Staples Lane Chair Knoll RPM Knoll Generation
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Data: Ease of Use
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average
Chair Height Adjustable 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Armrest Height Adjustable 1 1 1 5 5 5 5 5 5
Lumbar Support Adjustable 1 1 1 5 4 4.5 5 5 5
Backrest Angle Adjustable 1 1 1 5 5 5 5 5 5
Reclines Easily 3 1 2 5 5 5 5 5 5
Controls Reachable while Sitting 2 5 3.5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Control Functions Clear 4 5 4.5 1 5 3 3 5 4
Controls Easily Operable 4 5 4.5 1 5 3 5 5 5
Controls have Smooth Edges 4 5 4.5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Controls have Clearance Room 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5
Total 29 33 31 42 49 45.5 48 50 49
Staples Lane Chair Knoll RPM Knoll Generation
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Data: Bodily Support
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average
Back Presses Against Backrest 3 4 3.5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Stable Back Support 4 1 2.5 5 4 4.5 5 5 5
Constant Lumbar Support 3 1 2 5 4 4.5 5 5 5
Armrest Support 3 4 3.5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Armrest Length Convenient 2 4 3 5 5 5 5 5 5
Total 15 14 14.5 25 23 24 25 25 25
Staples Lane Chair Knoll RPM Knoll Generation
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Data: Overall Chair Experience
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average Ryan Jake Average
Control Integrate with Design 4 4 4 3 5 4 5 5 5
Appearance 4 3 3.5 5 3 4 5 5 5
Adjustability 2 2 2 5 5 5 5 5 5
Ease of Use 3 3 3 3 4 3.5 5 5 5
Comfort 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5
Total 17 16 16.5 20 21 20.5 25 25 25
Staples Lane Chair Knoll RPM Knoll Generation
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Findings: Chair Features
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
0
1
2
3
4
5
Seat Height
Adjustability
Seat Pan
Adjustability
Seat Pan
Angle
Adjustability
Seat
Backrest
Adjustability
Arm and
Shoulder
Clearance
Buttocks
Clearance
Lumbar
Support
Adjustability
Armrest
Height
Adjustable
Distance
between
Armrests
Staples Lane Chair Average Knoll RPM Average Knoll Generation Average
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Findings: Chair Comfort
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
0
1
2
3
4
5
Waterfall
Edge Behind
Knees
Seat Pan has
Soft Edges
Seat Pan is
Comfortable
Chair's
Backrest has
Soft Edges
Chair's
Backrest is
Comfortable
Lumbar
Support is
Comfortable
Armrests are
Padded
Soft Fabric
Staples Lane Chair Average Knoll RPM Average Knoll Generation Average
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Findings: Ease of Use
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
0
1
2
3
4
5
Chair
Height
Adjustable
Armrest
Height
Adjustable
Lumbar
Support
Adjustable
Backrest
Angle
Adjustable
Reclines
Easily
Controls
Reachable
while
Sitting
Control
Functions
Clear
Controls
Easily
Operable
Controls
have
Smooth
Edges
Controls
have
Clearance
Room
Staples Lane Chair Average Knoll RPM Average Knoll Generation Average
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Findings: Body Support
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
0
1
2
3
4
5
Back Presses
Against Backrest
Stable Back
Support
Constant Lumbar
Support
Armrest Support Armrest Length
Convenient
Staples Lane Chair Average Knoll RPM Average Knoll Generation Average
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Findings: Overall Chair Experience
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
0
1
2
3
4
5
Control Integrate
with Design
Appearance Adjustability Ease of Use Comfort
Staples Lane Chair Average Knoll RPM Average Knoll Generation Average
Case StudyCase StudyCase StudyCase Study
Analysis
What looks the best may not always be the best. The
RPM chair looked the most comfortable and easy to
use. The Generation chair was a little intimidating
and didn’t seem to offer much in the realm of
comfort, but it was quite the reverse of roles. The
Generation chair offered the most comfort and also
provided easy and simple adjustments. Nothing
seemed out of reach and unnatural in movement.
The RPM was almost there in good ergonomic design
but just fell short compared to the Generation chair.
It seems that the Generation chair allowed freedom
of natural movement, ease to adjust to one’s body,
and a flexible system for seating, all making for a well
designed ergonomic chair.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
General DiscussionGeneral DiscussionGeneral DiscussionGeneral Discussion
Executive Summary
GenerationThe Generation chair by
Knoll offers the best
ergonomic design of the
three chairs. It scored a
near perfect score and
offers the most
enjoyable seating
experience.
RPM The RPM chair by Knoll
was the runner-up. In
terms of ergonomic
design, it was very
functional but just quite
not there. There were a
couple of issues, but still
offered a decently
comfortable seating
experience.
LaneOf the three chairs, this
offered the worst sating
experience. It did not
offer a very comfortable
seat while also lacked
some adjustable
features. It was poorly
ergonomically designed.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
General DiscussionGeneral DiscussionGeneral DiscussionGeneral Discussion
Situational Recommendations
RPM
This chair targets an
older audience, but
features a modern
design.
These chairs would
benefit most in an older
commercial office space
with a modern design
touch. They offer class
and comfort, but are
slightly outdated to
younger generations.
Generation
This chair targets a
younger, fresher
audience, with a very
contemporary design.
These chairs should be
chosen in a younger
office space with a
contemporary design
touch. They offer class
and comfort, while
being up-to-date and in
style.
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION
Lane
This chair targets a more
economically priced
audience, for a small home
office.
These chairs should be
used for a small home
office, and a consumer
who cannot afford a high
end chair. It provides
temporary comfort but is
not the most well
ergonomically designed.
ReferencesReferencesReferencesReferences
Knoll (2009). Generation by Knoll. Canada.
Knoll (2014). Design and Plan. Retrieved February 23, 2014, from
http://www.knoll.com/design-plan
Knoll (company). Retrieved February 23, 2014, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knoll_(company)
DESIGN THINKINGBACKGROUND CASE STUDY DISCUSSION REFERENCESINTRODUCTION