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The evolution
of the office chair
1976 – 2010
Vitra has been dedicated to exploring the topic of sitting
since 1957. At the beginning of the 1970s, a structural
transformation began taking place in the West – an
industrial society started turning into a service society.
It was only a matter of time before more and more people
worked in offices. It was then that Vitra began to focus
intently on the office chair and, with its very first design –
the Vitramat – even set new industry standards. The goal
back then of successfully presenting improved solutions
offering technical quality, ergonomics and comfort with
every model has remained the same to this day.
1994
Knitted fabric was employed
for the first time with the torso
shaped backrest of the T-Chair.
1996
Meda Chair is an office chair
which makes a synchronised
range of motion possible and
pays tribute to the Aluminium
Chair by Charles and Ray Eames.
2005
HeadLine was developed to
facilitate prolonged computer
work while leaning back
in a chair in a relaxed position.
2010
The ID Chair Concept chairs can
be customised in countless ways
and now, for the first time, are
available with weight-dependant
forward tilt.
1976
Vitramat redefined the office
swivel chair with its innovative
three-part design, and thanks
to its synchronous mechanism,
it paved the way for dynamic
sitting.
1984
Persona was the first office
swivel chair which automatically
adjusted the backrest tension
to the weight of the user.
1984
The Figura with its colourful and
exchangeable covers brought a
home-like aesthetic to the office.
1988
With the AC 1 and its special
backrest mechanism for
a synchronised range of motion,
Vitra broke new ground both
on a formal and technical level.
OFFICE CHAIRs