More humans, less machine

Q&A with the designers of Fern™.

Fern the best ergonomic chair on the market, from the company Haworth, joins the support to the structure in a way that creates a more responsive chair back for a unique comfort experience. With its centrally located frame, similar to the human spine, and its system of slings held in tension by a suspension trellis, Fern moves and reacts naturally with the human body, while providing edgeless comfort.

Few things in our work environment evoke stronger physical and emotional attachment than a person's chair and no one knows that better than Fern's designers: Michael Welsh and Kyle Fleet of Haworth Design Studio. Want to learn more about the innovative design behind this ergonomic chair offering a one-of-a-kind seating comfort experience?

Michael Welsh, Head Designer at Haworth Seating Studio

Michael's passion for chair design stems from his experience with the "mini-environment" - workspaces where the human-product interface is more intimate, where people frequently interact with props, task lighting , the surface of the work table, as well as their chairs. Since we are in touch with our work chair and knowing that the chair becomes either a source of contentment or restlessness, Michael strives to create enriching designs that help people live better lives.

Haworth: How did Fern emerge as a development project?

MW: The Fern was born out of Haworth's Next Generation seating design initiative to explore supporting working postures in the office. Whether face-to-face, teleworking and in third-party spaces (cafes, hotels, on the go). From our research, we find that people move, even when they are seated. So, we focused on the tasks that people do, with a more “active” posture allowing and encouraging movement. We wanted to rethink the combination of comfort and proper support with the goal of creating a new paradigm for people who sit. We wanted to create a chair that moves flexibly with you and your whole body.

Haworth: Tell us more about the case. It sounds intriguing...

MW: Our team worked with Teresa Bellingar, enterprise ergonomist from Haworth, to determine a central curve that fits a wide range of people. As we explored, the back of the chair became edgeless. The whole structure is behind you, in what we call the “central spine”. There are two beams that flex in torsion, while suspending and supporting you. The multiple, undulating fronds radiate out from there, to create a flexible structure that cradles you within. It must be strong enough to support human weight, while remaining flexible. Thus, this backrest allows you to move, turn and flex. We've also developed a suspension system that accommodates new levels of movement by centering the suspension structure in the middle of the back, making the model's spine the pivot point of movement.

Kyle Fleet, Industrial Designer, Haworth Seating Studio

Kyle's innate curiosity fuels his passion for problem solving. What begins with a historical understanding of craftsmanship and evolves to meet modern technology. As he explores the composition of new materials and how they work together, Kyle's process-driven approach encompasses both sculpture and design. His hands provide tactile feedback of materials to drive form and function, as he seeks timeless and enduring solutions that enhance people's lives.

Haworth: Kyle, with your fine art background in sculpture and 3D design, how did your tactile approach influence Fern's design?

KF: The process of manipulating materials – creation and search for meaning – could be compared to the iterative process and practices of creating and researching new performances around aesthetics. I am fascinated by the technical possibilities of materials and how the process of manipulating materials results from new understandings and discoveries. Every interaction, experience or observation contains valuable information. Fern's back is a good example of this: it was developed partly by hand, creating a more human connection in its performance and character.

Haworth: Based on your unique involvement with Fern, how would you describe the essence of his record?

KF: We challenged ourselves to conceptually redefine the relationship between the layer that supports your body and the structure naturally required to provide that support. The slings, or bow limbs, connecting the frame to the 'support layer' must be bent into position and held in tension by the suspension trellis - and each sling is different, calibrated to support a different area of ​​the back. The suspension trellis relies on the stored energy of the pre-tensioned slings, to move and react naturally with the human body. The Sling System requires the structural framework and tuned geometry of the suspension truss to create and contain the stored energy.

The Fern File is a dynamic and complex system that consists of only two physical parts, connected in a very special way. Finally, this complete system is equipped with a layer of puffy knit padding, creating an even more faithful comfort experience, while emphasizing the very simple aesthetic. We are truly dedicated to maintaining this aesthetic! The system looks simple, but it contains complex science and engineering, balanced by a design that cradles you for a unique seating experience. You could say Fern's overall presence is calm, like the confidence of a wise mentor; yet strong, like the performance of a champion athlete. They are simple seats to use, not intimidating.

Haworth: And what about the seat?

MW: It's no surprise that Fern's back is getting all the attention, but a lot of people don't know that the seat is actually made of the same material as the back, to allow it to flex with you. Much like how the spine is split into two segments for torsional flexibility, there is a dual beam system in the seat. The latter uses the same flexibility to achieve the edgeless feel. Fern removes structural barriers, like hard edges and limited flex and responsiveness. You feel like you're sitting in the chair rather than on it. We designed it for human beings: the chair that responds to you, adapts to you, while offering you both flexibility and comfort. The seat is essential for stability! From the beginning, rethinking the combination of comfort and adequate support was a possible solution. It's a holistic design approach.

Haworth: How did you incorporate craftsmanship and modern technology into the development of Fern?

KF: Many products today are created only with computer-aided tools. I like to call it “technocraft,” a process that combines hands-on craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to create a physical product. Each injection-molded sling in the rear structure, as well as the suspension material, was fine-tuned by hand in the development process. The chair is designed to be natural, comfortable to sit on, with no hard edges, so you can go about your day in comfort. Fern responds to you with truly unique personalized user support.

Haworth: What is the inspiration for the design?

MW: From the beginning, the design vision was “integrated intelligence”. It is also a natural architecture that is familiar. Bow limbs are no different from a leaf in nature. They have multiple corrugated spars that are flexible but form a solid structure, much like a leaf, or a spider's web. The opening is completely unique to the person in the way it bends. Although the design looks simple, like a fern, which was our inspiration, it is very intricate and designed to match your body to the chair.

Haworth: What did this innovation, revolutionary as it is, bring to you in the field of seating?

KF: Thank you for asking the question. Sometimes you're so immersed in a project that you don't stop to think about its meaning, or how you feel. It's really satisfying to validate my work in a way that's true to who I am. It is rewarding. I am fascinated by people. So having the ability to create physical solutions for them is an exciting challenge involving enormous responsibility. I want to design authentic solutions that people love to use. Analyze everything, from aesthetics to performance. Bringing joy and comfort to people is definitely rewarding. We hope people engage with Fern and have their own truly unique comfort experience!

Original text translated and inspired by Haworth by Alexandra Fontaine.