The Ergonomics of a Director's Chair

Ergonomic design can best be described as "optimizing human well-being and overall system performance." Some products are created to serve a general purpose but there are designers out there striving to improve the overall comfort and ease of use by applying principles of safety, comfort, ease of use, performance (productivity), as well as aesthetics.

To start off, the design of this director’s chair is simple and visually uncomplicated. The designs and patterns that can be used to fabricate the chair are vast. It is a fairly traditional type of chair. There is a wooden frame that makes up the arms, legs, and back frame. The back and bottom frames are used to secure sturdy pieces of fabric that are the general support of the back and bottom. The salient characteristics of a director’s chair is the main frame of the chair that is made of pieces of wood that cross to create the X-shape. These are in the front and the back to support the legs and assist in the folding of the chair. There are four pieces of metal that connect to the arms and X-shape to help secure the chair in a sustained upright position. This particular chair has graphic, contrasting striped fabric that makes up the back support and the seat of the chair. 

The safety of this director’s chair is made secure by having metal locking bars ensuring that the chair does not spontaneously collapse while somebody is sitting in it. The four legs create a most steady, uniform support system of elevation. Also, the X-shape creates a rather stable frame with the aid of the sturdy fabric that is used to lock the X-shape into place.

The comfort of the chair is questionable. There is little or virtually no back support. After a user tries to sit for an extended period of time one can begin to notice the lack of general much needed support. Having no clear back support system promotes slouching and prolonged sitting can result in exhaustion and strain. The lack of comfort in the chair and simplified design suggests a limited sitting time. The arms are thin, wooden pieces and do not provide much comfort for arms or shoulders either.

This chair is very easy to use. All one has to do is unfold the chair and lock the metal bars in place. It can be used when it is convenient or it can be set in place as a conventional, everyday seat. This leads to the next points of performance and productivity. The fact that this chair can compact and fold to be virtually flat makes it is easy to store and transport to wherever seating is needed. It successfully comprises elements that constitute a general seating system. Although, just maybe it is not comparable to other ergonomic designed seating.

The simplistic design and colorful appearance promotes aesthetic over comfort. Using a director’s chair is convenient because of its compact portability and storage. However, the lack of important ergonomic design limits the amount of appropriate situations in which this chair can be used for an extended period of time. It is most commonly a chair used out of quick convenience rather than much needed comfort and support.

Image:

http://www.housetohome.co.uk/imageBank/c/chair23.jpg

Information on Ergonomics:

http://ergonomics.about.com/od/ergonomicbasics/a/ergo101.htm