If you're reading this, chances are you're sitting. Take a moment to analyze how you feel. Are you slouching in your back? Does the seat dig in or support you properly? Could you comfortably sit in this chair for an hour? Two hours?

Chairs have always served a variety of roles: thrones to embody authority, rocking chairs to soothe, or chaise longues for relaxation. But it's only recently that people have begun to manufacture chairs designed to support the body as it should be seated. Ergonomics—a scientific discipline that seeks to optimize how humans interact with objects, environments, and systems—has given rise to an entire industry of chairs that look more like "high-performance machines." They feature curved backrests, technical textiles, and a multitude of levers and knobs. How did we get here?

The emergence of ergonomics

Ergonomic principles have existed since antiquity. However, ergonomics—whose Greek etymology is close to “law of labor”—became a formalized field of study during the Industrial Revolution. At that time, the rise of manufacturing and the quest for efficiency prompted engineers to study how tools and work methods could increase productivity. At the same time, posture became a subject of moral and medical concern: theorizing about “seating hygiene” and designing furniture aimed at promoting “good” posture, often summarized as “straight back, still torso.” As historians David Yosifon and Peter N. Sterns explain in a study on posture, these concerns primarily reflected the values ​​of a middle-class society attached to etiquette, rather than actual scientific evidence. Even so, the chairs of the period already anticipated some key elements of modern ergonomics, such as lumbar support, swivel seats, and casters.

But it was in the mid-20th century that ergonomics truly became a scientific discipline in its own right. The Second World War, with its technological acceleration, played a major role: engineers and designers understood that "human factors" (physiology, psychology, cognition) must be taken into account when designing complex vehicles or aircraft. A famous case: several seasoned military pilots crashed while attempting to land their bomber. An Air Force psychologist discovered that the aircraft's levers were too similar, so much so that pilots confused the landing gear and flap levers. By modifying their shape and ergonomics, accidents dropped considerably.

This awareness, originally linked to cockpits, has since spread to all sorts of objects: the handle of a vegetable peeler, the grips of a pair of scissors, the computer mouse or the office chair.

From industrial design to standardized measurements

Ergonomics was popularized in particular by the influential industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss. Known for his round thermostat, he published Designing for People in 1955, in which he explained that his role was to make the environment and humans more compatible. To this end, Dreyfuss frequently collaborated with doctors, designed "adapted" objects, and gathered data on human morphology. He then established standard dimension guides for design, based on the average height and stature of men and women. His approach was widely adopted in industry, paving the way for mass standardization.

As medical advances, new imaging techniques, and the discovery of the complex workings of the spine continued, ergonomics continued to evolve. In the 1960s and 1970s, medical science became more interested in biomechanics and spinal anatomy; methods for measuring comfort were based on objective data—pressure exerted on the lumbar discs, muscle activity—rather than simple sensations. This encouraged designers to take a serious look at the office chair, as we better understood how sitting posture influenced concentration and blood circulation, not to mention fatigue and back pain.

Adjustable seats: a turning point for comfort

In the process, several designers imagined chairs capable of adapting to the body's movements and preferences: reclining backrests, molded foam to support the lumbar region, adjustable armrests, adjustable height... One of the main principles that emerged at this time was to encourage "dynamic posture," that is, to avoid a fixed position and allow the body to move. One pioneering designer even set out ten criteria for comfort, emphasizing the importance of supporting the sacro-lumbar area, allowing the pelvis to tilt, and promoting blood circulation in the legs. Advertising campaigns of the time emphasized the multiple postures allowed by this new type of chair: we see workers slouching on the phone, leaning back to think, or crossing their legs under the desk.

As research progressed, seat design improved. In particular, the 1990s saw the emergence of suspended fabrics instead of traditional foam: these breathable and elastic materials mold to the shape of the body and eliminate pressure points. The concept gradually became more widespread, so much so that most of the "ergonomic" office chairs available today—both high-end and more affordable—use technical textiles and suspended structures.

A diversity of bodies… for standardized seats

One of the dilemmas of ergonomics is that chairs are mass-produced, while bodies vary enormously. The "average-size" approach, which stemmed from the work of Dreyfuss in particular, therefore has its limitations. Some designers are realizing this difficulty and are moving away from the idea of ​​the "standard user." Now, there is more interest in taking into account a wide range of body shapes, whether by correctly distributing weight, adjusting seat depth, or including more complex mechanisms for finer tilt.

Sit longer… or learn to stand up?

Ergonomic chairs have served their purpose so well that they now allow people to spend hours at the office without too much discomfort. However, we now know that prolonged inactivity is the source of numerous health problems: increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even certain cancers. Doctors often point out that "prolonged sitting" rhymes with "bad habits," to the point that we sometimes hear it said that "sitting is the new smoking." Designers cannot solve this problem of sedentary lifestyles with adjustments or cushioning; at best, they create "active" seats, which force the user to regularly shift from one posture to another, or even purposely uncomfortable chairs to encourage them to stand up more often.

Other designers, such as Peter Opsvik in the 1970s, introduced the famous phrase: "The best posture is always the next one." In other words, no matter how well designed a chair is, it will never replace the need to take breaks, stand up, and walk around. The point, ultimately, is not to sit perfectly, but to move enough to maintain one's health.

Conclusion

From the majestic throne intended to establish power, to office chairs with sophisticated mechanisms designed to support the back and maintain concentration, our relationship with sitting has evolved considerably throughout history. Ergonomics, fueled by research in medicine, psychology, and engineering, has given rise to seats that are more adjustable and more comfortable than ever before. Yet the ergonomic revolution also reminds us of our limits: no chair, however "perfect," can compensate for a sedentary lifestyle. As a design pioneer once pointed out: moving, changing posture, and taking breaks remain the best way to maintain well-being and avoid the infamous back pain that has so long accompanied our sedentary lifestyle.