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The task chair is the single most important piece of furniture in the contemporary office. If a chair would adapt and change with regards to function, aesthetics and ergonomics depending on the individual requirements of users or teams, this would greatly enhance the health, well-being and productivity of its users. But most companies choose for standardization. In this way, facility management and procurement determine the user comfort and maintenance system.

Up until now, a single model did not suffice to meet these conflicting and challenging demands. This is why Vitra developed the ID Chair Concept together with Antonio Citterio.

Concept

The ID Chair Concept meets the diverse needs of the contemporary office. The system is based on a newly developed platform mechanism and provides the individual user with over 8000 options for customization. Aesthetically and technically, the chair remains the same which provides a range of advantages in the fields of aesthetics, maintenance and service.

The FlowMotion-mechanism with its range of functions, the various armrests and base systems and the wide range of colors and fabrics provide every user and every company with the option of developing "their own" ID Chair, for an open office, individual workstations, team office, meeting rooms or executive offices.

The ID Chair Concept also offerte a wide range of configurations and positions for a comfortable seating experience. The soft seat and supportive backrest, available in various fabrics, provide exceptional comfort. The optional Clima Seat membrane that is integrated in the seat provides a comfortable sitting climate up to 8 times longer then traditional systems.

ID Chair Concept models

The ID Chair Concept consists of 3 basic types with a different backrest: ID Mesh, ID Soft and ID Trim. The backrests are available in various heights and can be equipped with headrests. Thanks to the multi-functional FlowMotion synchronising mechanism, the different armrests and base structures and the wide range of colors and fabrics, every user can define "their own" ID Chair.

ID Mesh

The ID Mesh embodies technical transparancy and lightness. This innovative net weave is fixed to a slender frame and remains transparant and open, while providing the comfort of a pillow. The Diamond Mesh-fabric ensures that air can circulate and improves seating comfort at higher temperatures. The ID Mesh can be equipped with a headrest or coat standard.

ID Soft

The completely padded backrest provides a high seating comfort and is a minimalist, sober and restrained appearance, allowing it to fit in at the most diverse office surroundings. The back of the ID Soft is adjustable in height and thus provides additional support for larger users in the shoulders.

ID Trim and ID Trim L

The backrest of the ID Trim with its compact headrest show a classic elegance and craftsman quality. The so-called sandwich structure provides the seating comfort of a fully padded backrest, but is almost as slender as a netweave, making it the most suitable alternative between the different options. The ID Trim L with its high backrest is the alternative for the executive office and provides additional support in the neck and shoulders.

Individuality and identity

The task chair is a functional instrument, but also contains great emotional value. Because autonomy at the office is important for modern "knowledge workers", an ideal situation would be that everyone would be able to define their own unique ID Chair.

Thanks to the platform structure of the ID Chair Concept, companies can adapt to the changing needs of individual users and can select a range of different ID Chairs, while maintaining a common identity. They can choose the models that match their expectations based on price, aesthetics and ergonomics.

Chairs can also be defined for different teams of zones, providing a consistent aesthetic while satisfying functional needs for individual users. The new slender and robust FlowMotion-mechanism can be equipped with a negative tilt, a sliding seat and various armrests. This means that ID Chairs can also be matched to individual demands based on function.The ID Chair Concept fosters well-being: Architectural psychologists have proven the correlation between office design, well-being and employee performance. If employees feel good, they are better motivated and more productive. The ID Chair contributes to this. It combines technical precision with organic softness and its discreet design represents the contemporary expression of the office swivel chair. Contemporary offices are increasingly dominated by light, friendly colours that represent openness and direct communication. The ID Chair Concept incorporates itself in this office world with its expression and colours, whilst discreet black is complemented with numerous light shades that bring out the homeliness of today’s offices.

Health & Biomechanics

The ID Chair Concept is good for the health: For the first time ever, the new, patented FlowMotion chair mechanism enables forward and backward tilt of the ID Chair with synchronised weight adjustment. This supports dynamic sitting no matter how much you move around. The mechanism automatically adjusts the chair to the weight of the user. The fine-tuning is performed by means of an adjustment screw. A maximum of two rotations are enough to simply and rapidly find the right setting for you. All other functions can also be intuitively adjusted from a sitting position.
Among other things, participants tested the comfort and seating behaviour and evaluated them with the help of questionnaires. The test series shows that the chair’s scope of movement was fully used and proves the health benefits of the flexibility of movement of the ID Chair Concept.Studied by the ETH Zurich: In the assessment of new chair mechanisms, Vitra is collaborating with the Institute for Biomechanics of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) – one of the world’s leading higher education institutes. The Institute performed a scientific study on the ID Chair Concept and the FlowMotion mechanism in summer 2010. EMG measurements also showed that the intuitive use of the weight-dependent forward tilt results in greater activity of the stomach and back muscles. This results in a faster metabolism and a stabilisation of the lumbar column.

MRI measurements proved that tilting the chair forward triggered movement of all segments of the lower spine. In comparison to long periods of time where the body remains stationary, this movement of the intervertebral discs relieves and increases the diffusion of nutrients.
Dynamic sitting can also actively prevent damage to your health, with the forward tilt of the seat having a particularly positive effect. The muscles are activated and all segments of the lower spine are set in motion. This improves the blood flow in the muscles and diffusion of the intervertebral discs, which is also beneficial to health.

The Green User Agreement

Like all Vitra products, the ID Chair also undergoes extensive quality testing that ensures the durability of every chair. Above and beyond the legal warranty standards required, Vitra offers its project clients a Green User Agreement – an individual service agreement for the sustainable usage of the ID Chair Concept.In this, the customer undertakes to subject the product to proper use and maintenance. In return, Vitra undertakes to ensure that all ID Chairs can be used for the full scope of usage for the duration of the Green User Agreement. In the case of any manufacturing or material defects, Vitra will exchange these ID Chairs free-of-charge, or replace any worn parts where appropriate.
Five years after signing the Green User Agreement, a service check is performed on the ID Chairs on the customer’s premises. It includes cleaning, a general function check and any necessary repairs to seat covers, backrests, arm supports or pneumatic springs. With the service check – the cost of which is also carried by the customer with an amount determined upon signing the contractual agreement – the Green User Agreement will be extended by a further five years.
After this, the service checks will be carried out on a regular basis every five years, and completed in each case with a service report that lists all ID Chairs according to number, type and age in a clearly structured form.
The Green User Agreement thereby ensures a period of usage of up to 15 years, depending on the starting date of usage of individual chairs. Upon expiry of the usage duration, the Green User Agreement specifies that the ID Chairs be returned to Vitra for proper recycling. With the Green User Agreement, Vitra discloses the usage costs incurred for service and maintenance. Companies therefore know the purchase price and the cost of usage from the outset and thus the total cost of ownership over the entire period of usage.

Sustainability

The ID Chair Concept is exceptionally easy to maintain and sustainable throughout its entire lifespan. However, an above-average lifespan is not achieved by technical, material and aesthetic quality alone. With the new Green User Agreement, Vitra promises a lifespan of up to 15 years, as well as subsequent redemption and recycling via its comprehensive guarantee and service offers.

The ID Chair Concept is durable and ecological: All chairs share the same technical platform, thereby making maintenance and servicing much more straightforward. The wear parts of the chair can be easily replaced, the backrest and seat can be dismantled without the need for special tools, and the seat covers are easy to remove. ID Chairs are made from up to 51% recycled materials and are up to 97% recyclable, carry the eco-label “Blauer Engel für emissionsarme Polstermöbel” (“Blue Angel for low-emission upholstered furniture”) and are GREENGUARD certified.

01-12-2010