Varia - alternative positions workstation
This is my graduation (bachelor) project! A great deal of work. I've decided to follow my interest in ergonomy of sitting position, and use all the experience i've already gained... So that this this time it really works. Works at home. It's a home workstation for those, who need to sit with computer or books, and don't want to sit in a chair. It's also a really thoroughful ergonomical & sociological study of sitting habits.
Let's start with the question:
There is a need, and there is a problem which is not solved - how to work seated and stay comfortable? This is why I needed to develop this project.
We do sit this way.
And this way too.
It's easy to notice that there is a greater variety of positions when it comes to sitting by the floor. It also seems natural to use different, low positions, since we do it when we rest. People in other cultures use them since ages. People in our culture try to use them even if they stick to the chairs.
Above you can see main groups of positions i've recognized. Taking under consideration both "common" and "uncommon but healthy" alternative sitting postures, I've tried to adapt them for working at the desk. Because we do need a desk: for our tools, compter or the books.
And... there is no such thing as perfect sitting position. It's all about changes; we unconsciously do it all the time.
I've been analyzing the cycle of changes in position of different people (when working):
Ok, but let's put the details aside (if you really want more details, contact me), and get to the project!
guidelines:
who: mostly young people
where: at home
what: working with a laptop or books
goals:
- to improve ergonomic conditions for alternative sitting positions
- to enable working at the desk in alternative sitting positions
- Including positions with an open angle between thighs and trunk, which naturally straightens the back
- enabling an easy change between positions
Varia is a home workstation which enables taking various alternative positions, while still working at the desk.
...even this:
and... the changes! It really is designed, so that it takes minimum effort to swich between the two most common (or best for our spine) options. It's a necessary condition: we tend to ignore anything that demands too much effort, especially when tired or focused on work.
The project was more about finding the right solution - dimensions and angles - than sheer form. It cold look different (and, for example, be easier to mass produce), and work the same way:
Anyway, it's great and I keep using it at home :)
2018
graduation project (bachelor) on Design Faculty of Jan Matejko’s Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków
tutor: prof. Czesława Frejlich