Swing
A childhood-inspired chair that intuitively enhances meeting experiences
Meetings can become stuck due to stress and a lack of
creativity, causing attendees to feel anxious and hesitant to
speak. This can create a tense atmosphere that hinders the
productivity of the meeting. Swing is a chair designed to help
people relax and be more creative. Its intuitive swinging
movement allows users to engage in a familiar, childhood
activity, helping to reduce stress and enhance the conversation
experience.
About this project
My role : Individual
User research, User experience, Industrial design
Main tools involved
Alias, Fusion360, Keyshot, 3D printing, Spray gun,
Product photography
Project duration
2
months
Project Achievements
2021 iF Talent : Shortlist of 300
2021 Anji Chairs Cup :
Excellent Award
2021 Huacan Award : Excellent Award
2021 Reddot Concept Award : Passed Prejudge
2021 TISDC : Shortlisted
2021 Young Pin Design Award :
Shortlisted
My observation
People are not talking
During a meeting with my partners to plan for an upcoming design exhibition, only a few people were actively participating in the discussion while the rest were idle. As a result, the atmosphere was tense, and the meeting was unproductive.
Stress and lacking creativity stop conversation
Statistics show that office workers have an average of 62 meetings per month, which are meant to facilitate the exchange of ideas and lead to a conclusion. However, people often struggle to come up with ideas or feel hesitant to speak up during meetings, creating a vicious cycle:
Stress -> No ideas -> Fear to speak -> Problem stuck-> Serious atmosphere
Opportunity
Active sitting : reduces stress and boosts creativity
The human body is designed to move, and active sitting is a method of sitting that promotes healthy alignment while satisfying the body's natural desire for movement. Research has shown that active sitting can significantly reduce stress as measured by electrodermal activity (EDA) biofeedback. When pressure is reduced, creativity is able to flourish, leading to improved problem-solving abilities in all circumstances.
Swinging: a familiar and fun childhood activity
Swinging is a well-known movement that many people may have experienced in their childhoods. Structures designed for swinging can be found in parks and playgrounds around the world, providing joy and health benefits to people. Since swinging is a natural and effortless action, a swinging chair can help encourage active sitting by subtly guiding users into the swinging motion.
The Experience
The Swing chair transforms the typical meeting experience. Its swinging structure, reminiscent of playground swings, encourages users to engage in active sitting in a natural and intuitive way. By promoting active sitting, the Swing chair enhances creativity and improves the health, creativity, and efficiency of meetings.
Follows your body
The swinging structure of the chair not only allows users to swing, but it also enables them to choose how they sit by responding to their body's natural movements. When the seat tilts forward, it encourages a more focused posture, while leaning it backward allows for a more relaxed position.
Ideation
I began the design process by determining the appearance of a chair that allows swinging. I explored different options for attaching a swinging seat to the handles by creating rough sketches. These initial designs served as the starting point for further development.
Iteration
Pushing to the limits with a premium and elegant approach
I wanted the design of the chair to be playful and dynamic, yet also premium and elegant, so I identified design elements that aligned with the desired persona. Thus, Using computer modeling and 2D corrections, I refined the design to reach the final result.
Structure, materials and prototyping
After completing the 3D digital model and conducting physical tests to ensure proper material density, I used SLA printing to create a life-size prototype. I also carefully selected fabric and metal parts that conveyed a premium feel.
Final thoughts
The moving philosophy
I am convinced that incorporating movement into the way we sit and actively engaging in the act of sitting is essential for maintaining good health. The Swing chair introduces this concept into the context of meetings to improve communication and overcome obstacles.
Additionally, given that adults spend an average of 9-10 hours sitting each day, I believe that the benefits of swinging and active sitting extend far beyond just meetings, and have the potential to significantly impact our overall well-being in ways that have yet to be fully explored or understood.
Designed and coded by Hantus Chen.