Aeron Chair Remastered 2016

Designers: Don Chadwick, Chadwick Studio, Los Angeles, California, USA
Manufacturer: Herman Miller, Zeeland, Michigan, USA

When designers Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick set out to create a chair that was health-positive, cross-performing, inclusively sized, and environmentally sensitive, they arrived at a design unlike the world had ever seen. Aeron demonstrated a pioneering step in ergonomics and material innovation, and provided a comfortable solution without the standard use of foam, fabric, or leather. It changed people’s perception of what an office chair could be— and in doing so it soon found a place in popular culture.

Fast forward to the present, and the same criteria serve as the foundation for a whole new Aeron. While its iconic form has remained largely unchanged, the Aeron Chair has been remastered from the casters up to meet the needs of today’s work and workers. With the help of original co-designer, Don Chadwick, we thoughtfully updated the chair based on the latest research around the science of sitting, and advancements in materials, manufacturing, and technology.

Performance

At Herman Miller, we have learned a great deal about how best to support people in the varied postures they adopt throughout the workday. With the new Aeron Chair, we incorporated two decades’ worth of technological and ergonomic enhancements to improve the health-positive design, and widen the range of cross-performance capabilities. With updates that include a more refined tilt mechanism, adjustable PostureFit SL™, and 8Z Pellicle® suspension, the new Aeron performs better than ever before— so you can too.

Design

Just as iconic films and albums are updated for new mediums, standards, and audiences, Aeron has been remastered to meet the needs of today’s work, workers, and work environments. By coupling co-designer Don Chadwick’s vision with Herman Miller’s latest research around the science of sitting, the new Aeron works smarter than ever before. 

About Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick 

Between Bill Stumpf’s flair for function and Don Chadwick’s eye for elegance, the two possessed all of the right components to create revolutionary, identifiable performance chairs. They started with the Equa® Chair designed for Herman Miller in the 1980s. In the 1990s, Stumpf’s deep understanding of ergonomics, Chadwick’s rich feel for aesthetics, and Herman Miller’s rigorous research and engineering power delivered the Aeron Chair—a seat that became synonymous with comfort and recognized for its dematerialized design. Using his and Stumpf’s initial criteria for the Aeron Chair, Chadwick is the sole designer to work with Herman Miller on the new Aeron.

Materials

Through hundreds of samples, tests, and iterations, we arrived at three tightly curated, holistic material expressions. Graphite is the darkest, a modern rendition of the original Aeron. Carbon offers a balanced neutral that works equally well in warm and cool environments. Mineral is the lightest, ideal for today’s more open office environments. Created through a unique painting process, Aeron’s satin aluminum finish offers a luster redolent of high-end electronic equipment. Colors were developed to harmonize with the chair’s other components. Details such as these contribute to a product worthy of the Aeron name, but they are not enough. Each detail contributes to a seamless whole.