June 25, 2008—Steelcase Inc., a global office environments manufacturer, previewed two new seating products at NeoCon 2008, the World’s Trade Fair, June 9-11, in Chicago.
Both the i2i and cobi are designed to improve collaboration in the workplace. Steelcase researchers found that collaboration takes time and chairs designed for short-term sitting (like those often found in conference rooms and team spaces) cause fatigue over time and can drain energy. Therefore, collaborative seating should promote movement and be comfortable for long periods, says Steelcase.
Researchers also found that workers in collaborative spaces don’t adjust their chairs, they adapt. So, adjustments should be automatic and/or intuitive. In addition, the researchers found, people change postures a lot when they collaborate to fight fatigue, to follow a presenter, and to actively engage with others. So, collaborative seating should support multiple postures.
Steelcase created i2i (pronounced “eye to eye”) as a new alternative for collaborative settings that helps people stay focused and connected. i2i is free of adjustments, yet has a flexing back and a mechanism that invite both movement and support when sitting upright or reclined. It supports a variety of postures through its dual swivel mechanism that allows users to swivel the seat and back together, swivel the back only (stay oriented to others while adjusting your posture to reduce fatigue) or swivel the seat only (keep your posture but change your orientation). The flexing back features molded “fingers” that support back movement and recline, for comfort.
i2i is available with or without tablet arm, and with or without wheels. Surface materials include multiple finishes and sixteen knit colors for the seat and back, and optional COMs and leather on the seat.
The company also introduced compact and lightweight cobi, which provides seating for teams that helps people move freely and minimize fatigue. Cobi dynamically supports a wide range of postures with only one manual adjustment for seat height, notes the company.
An intuitive, weight-activated mechanism provides support by automatically responding to the user’s movement. Its elastomeric top edge gives way and provides comfort, as opposed to resistance, when users drape an arm over the back of the chair. Additionally, the seat pan flexes on three sides, allowing users to sit in multiple directions in comfort. A unique, breathable knit material on the back adds to cobi’s cool, comfortable sit.
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A table-based collaborative chair, cobi is available as a five-star based chair, a stool or a nester, in multiple finishes and sixteen knit colors for seat and back. cobi was a Best of NeoCon Silver award winner in the Conference Seating category.
Both chairs are a continuation of the Alive Seating portfolio and are based on its four key principles: movement, orientation, fit, and sustainability. Steelcase has submitted both products for Cradle-to-Cradle certification.
The chairs will begin shipping in North America during the first quarter of 2009.
For more information, see the Steelcase Web site.
