The chair is the object that more than any other shows the relationship between form and function,.
– Bruno Munari.
As simple as it may seem, the chair holds a mirror to culture, technology, and how we inhabit the world. Nowhere is this more evident than in the workplace; a once rigid and hierarchical space, now increasingly fluid, mobile, and virtual. In this shifting landscape, Savo’s design philosophy – rooted in ergonomics, adaptability, and comfort – offers a timely reminder that how we sit shapes how we work.
A History of Innovation
Historically, the chair has evolved from a symbol of power to an everyday necessity. The throne became the task chair, and in between came a parade of innovations. Marcel Breuer’s Wassily Chair stripped the form down to its bare, modernist essence. Charles and Ray Eames sculpted plywood into the contours of the human body. Niels Diffrient reimagined office seating with a focus on human factors and effortless adjustment. Each design responded not just to style trends, but to deeper questions. What does the body need? How do we live and work now?
Blurred lines between work and rest
In the past, we often separated our seating choices: comfort was reserved for pleasure, and discomfort was an unfortunate necessity of work. But the evolution of office seating is gradually erasing that divide, bringing the two together in a more seamless experience. Today, we sit more than ever – often for longer stretches and in more static environments.
The digital age has transformed work into something we carry with us: on screens, in clouds, across time zones. Then came the pandemic, and with it two years of global stillness. Living rooms became offices. Kitchen tables became conference rooms. Our bodies paid the price.
Rethinking movement
In response, a new movement emerged: standing desks, walking pads, treadmill meetings. And while we pushed against the sedentary life we’d been forced to live, the value of good seating became more apparent. Because the reality is that most of our work requires a huge amount of sitting; and so the experience should be supportive – not just for our posture, but for our presence and engagement. The chair should work with the body, not against it.
Savo’s human-centric design
Our approach to workplace seating is guided by this human-centric ethos. Chairs are built not just for the tasks we do, but for the people we are while doing them: ever restless, ever creative, ever changing. In a world increasingly defined by invisible systems and intangible work, a thoughtfully designed chair is one of the few tactile interactions we have left. It’s where design quite literally meets the body.
In summary:
Whilst our workplaces and demands have evolved, the chair remains a crucial tool. It’s not just where we sit, but how we show up. The right chair makes space for focus, flow, and wellbeing. And in the quiet dance between design and the human body, that’s where Savo emerges – as an intuitive design partner supporting us in the way we work.
Photography by Morten Nordstrøm (cover) and Jacobo Campos (1,2,3,4)