Who Create The Ergonomic Chair First?

The ergonomic chair is a type of chair that is designed to improve comfort and posture for the sitter, while also reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The history of the ergonomic chair is not very clear, as different designers and inventors have contributed to its development over time. 

However, some of the most notable milestones are:

·         In the early 1840s, Charles Darwin modified his wooden arm chair by adding wheels and legs, so that he could move around his workspace more easily.

·         In 1849, Thomas E. Warren designed the Centripetal Spring Armchair, which used a swivel mechanism and castors to enable office workers to reach things without having to stand up. It also had velvet upholstery and a skirt to hide the springs.

·         In 1857, Wojciech Jastrebowski coined the term ‘ergonomics’ in his work The Outline of Ergonomics, or the Science of Work.

·         In 1904, Frank Lloyd Wright created the Larkin Building chair, which was intended to help typists with comfort and posture. However, it was unstable and prone to tipping over.

·         In 1976, Herman Miller launched the Ergon Chair, which was the first chair to be designed specifically to improve comfort and health for the sitter. It was based on extensive research on human anatomy and biomechanics.

Therefore, depending on how one defines an ergonomic chair, different people can be credited with its invention. Some may consider Frank Lloyd Wright as the first inventor of an ergonomic chair, while others may regard Herman Miller as the pioneer of ergonomic chair design.