Studio Space: Studio 7.5 and Herman Miller’s Setu Chair

otto — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:35:31 +0000

Herman Miller‘s Setu Chair, designed by Studio 7.5, addresses the mobile workplace and the fact that work is now done in the most unexpected of places. The 7.5 team realized that multipurpose seating should reflect these changing needs, and devised — over several years and many exploratory prototypes — a chair that combines work-chair principles of motion and comfort with sleak lines, simplicity, and an affordable price ($650 list). Here is a look at Claudia Plikat, Roland Zwick, Burkhard Schmitz, and Carola Zwick‘s processes leading up to Setu, and their favorite (and least favorite) places to do work.

Early concepts

In-house prototyping

An early iteration of the Setu spine

Setu spine concept

In-house prototyping

Testing an early prototype of Setu

In the studio

Roland Zwick, Claudia Plikat, Burkhard Schmitz, and Carola Zwick

Herman Miller: Setu by Studio 7.5

What are your top 3 favorite places to do work?

Lunch time at the studio makes for vivid, but relaxed conferences while eating. Sometimes great ideas are born over espressos.
The model shop, because hands sometimes grasp answers quicker than the brain.
Sofa/shower/public swimming pool/autobahn. Sometimes it’s more productive to not chase for a solution, these places offer a meditative quality: work is where your mind can travel. Of course you need to sit down afterwards and process the outcome.

What is your least favorite place to do work?
Checking emails on the iPhone on the way to the restrooms.

otto » Roland Zwick

Studio Space: Studio 7.5 and Herman Miller’s Setu Chair