The Aeron Chair – Should You Remaster An Icon?
Published
Remastering icons is certainly nothing new; think the Volkswagen Beetle, the Apple computer, the digital re-re-release of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey – the list goes on. However, what’s most important here is that none of these classics were ‘recreated’ – but rather ‘remastered’.
When the Aeron chair by Herman Miller first launched in 1994, it was unlike any chair the world had ever seen. Instead of a padded throne, designers Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick did away with foam and fabric to create a true machine for sitting. Uniting human centred design with Herman Miller’s leadership in innovative technology and materials, Aeron quickly became the best-selling and most recognisable performance chair of our time – it was even featured in an episode of The Simpsons, where Homer dreams that God sits in an Aeron!
In collaboration with co-original designer, Don Chadwick almost 25 years after its debut, Herman Miller reveals a project over two years in the making – the Aeron chair, remastered. Herman Miller’s new Aeron retains the distinctive silhouette of the iconic chair, but every component of the design has been updated to raise the bar for performance seating ergonomically, functionally, anthropometrically and environmentally.
The dedicated team of Herman Miller scientists, engineers, materials specialists, and researchers has enhanced the chair by combining the latest insights in anthropometrics and ergonomics with two decades of advancement in materials, manufacturing, and technology. The resulting chair is recognisably an Aeron, but features stronger and smarter materials, better adjustment capabilities, intuitive controls, enhanced aeration, and a healthpositive, more comfortable sit.
Essentially what we have here, are four new key features of the Aeron 2.0: 8Z Pellicle for zonal pressure distribution and aeration, PostureFit SL for adjustable sacral and lumbar support, Intuitive adjustments for optimal comfort and customisation, and holistic material palettes to enhance modern environments.
This new design allows the sitter can reach custom reclining like never before. In revisiting Aeron for the future of workers, every effort was made to significantly improve upon the comfort and performance of the original, while also creating a beautiful, harmonious look-and-feel through updated colours, materials, and finishes.
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