by Brianna Crandall — July 2, 2014—The creative Michigan-based izzy+ company, a subsidiary of JSJ Corporation, debuted two new chairs at NeoCon 2014 that pay homage to founder Chuck Saylor on his approaching retirement by continuing his focus on human-centered design, and which he considers the most significant designs that he has ever been involved with in his career.
The Wabi and Nikko launch reflects the latest thinking at izzy+ on providing a healthy sitting experience—part of a long line of chairs designed with movement in mind, including Saylor’s initial chair design for izzy+, the Hannah seating family, and chairs resulting from the 10-year izzy+ alliance with Scandinavian seating company HAG and its legendary Norwegian designer Peter Opsvik.
“Movement is everywhere in our NeoCon showroom, and is a central theme to the beliefs upon which the company was founded,” said Allison Roon, director of design for izzy+. “Moving is about staying healthy, getting exercise, and keeping the creative juices flowing. At izzy+, we’ve always been about human-centered design and the idea that movement throughout the day makes each day more productive, collaborative, healthy, and fun.”
Two great chairs, one great sit
As izzy+ describes the two chairs, Wabi and Nikko are like brothers who share the same DNA, but have different interests. While Wabi was designed to support longer-term sits in “first spaces” for focused work, Nikko was created specifically for “second and third spaces” for creativity.
According to Sava Cvek, president of SCA Development International, Wabi and Nikko designer, the key to Wabi’s “revolutionary” design lies in the seat, not the back. The seat pan design is engineered to support proper pelvic alignment, while the rest of the chair supports that hard-working seat.
izzy+ promotes movement as the key to healthy sitting, saying that research shows that the healthiest sitting position is one that allows plenty of movement. Working from the physical therapy-based premise that optimal sitting is where the spine is best aligned and protected, and allows for the most movement, the Wabi and Nikko technology focuses on pelvic alignment. Although adults often vary by a foot or more in height, the distance between our “sitting bones” (or ischial tuberosities) is within a half inch for 95% of the population, says izzy+, so the design of the Wabi and Nikko seat pans is engineered to work universally.
Backed by years of anatomical research, izzy+ says it designed a chair with an entirely new seat pan—one that tilts the pelvis slightly forward, keeps it balanced from side to side, and reduces pressure points on your “sit bones” and thighs. Higher-density sculpted foam cut-out pockets with flexors support pelvic alignment and reduce pressure points. The outer seat pan has front-edge flexors to relieve thigh pressure. With the pelvis tilted to its optimal position, izzy+ says the resulting balanced active movement promotes better circulatory and digestive function, helps relieve common back and neck tension, and properly aligns the discs and joints of the spine.
“Wabi” is a Japanese word said to describe the beauty of studied simplicity and harmony between nature and humans. Described as “simple, humble, and intuitive,” Wabi was created for “first spaces”—heads-down solo workspaces, but with features that welcome collaboration—thanks to a balanced sit that allows optimal movement and comfort. Wabi’s micro back-tension adjustors fine-tune independent dual-adjustable springs, allowing users to tailor the ride of the chair to their preferences.
A pelvic rotator pad helps gently nudge the user’s pelvis into proper alignment to help prevent injury-causing bad postural habits. Available with fixed or adjustable arms or armless, Wabi features a dual-density single-molded foam seat with pelvic and front-edge flexors and a mesh task back that allow for movement. The base is available in nylon, painted aluminum, or polished aluminum. The chair’s product page includes a Wabi Adjustment Guide video.
“Nikko” is the name of a National Park in Japan said to celebrate the simple, beautiful relationship between humans and nature. Designed to be characterized by “harmony, balance, and beauty” in accordance with extensive research and science, Nikko was created specifically for “second and third spaces,”—rooms and nooks for gatherings with an agenda and a timeframe where flexibility, inspiration, and collaboration rule; and places people don’t have to be but gravitate toward anyway.
izzy+ notes that research shows that “getting away” from one’s usual environment is essential to effective thinking—it actually opens up neuropathways in the brain, allowing people to look at problems and projects from a fresh perspective—and that moving around also helps prevent the 90-percent reduction in the production of fat-burning enzymes that happens after one hour of sitting.
Available with fixed or adjustable aluminum arms or armless, Nikko features a dual-density single-molded foam seat with pelvic and front-edge flexors and a V-fork conference swivel. The base is available in nylon or polished aluminum. Nikko is also available in a stool-height option.
