chairless chair supports factory workers with an exo-skeleton structure

swiss studio sapetti’s ‘chairless chair’ is a flexible exo-skeleton that allows people to take a seat wherever, and whenever, they wish. users can walk around freely with this wearable exo-skeleton once they get into a squatting, crouching, or seated position, adding instant stability to the factory environment.

all images © studio sapetti

studio sapetti designed the ‘chairless chair’ for a swiss company that calls itself the world’s first supplier of ‘wearable ergonomic mechatronic devices’. this exo-skeletal chair is noone’s first product. the wearable structure is designed for manufacturing environments, where workers are required to stand for extended periods, and where traditional chairs would be an obstacles cluttering the workplace. this reduces the number of instances where employees have accidents and feel physical strain, so it can potentially reduce absences, protect workers’ joints, and put a stop to early retirement.

the structures frame can be adjusted to suit people of different shapes and sizes, plus it can be fitted to a variety  of work-friendly footwear. it comprises light-weight, durable engineering plastics such as polyamide. sapetti developed its product over two years, in collaboration with engineers zühlke. the designer team worked closely with employees of automotive companies AUDI, seat, škoda, BMW, daimler AG, and renault to further understand the needs of workers in different factory environments.

studio sapetti’s founder, marc sapetti, comments, ‘with the chairless chair, noonee’s clients can not only improve the ergonomic environment for their employees, by improving body posture, but also solve and prevent certain occupational health and safety challenges, and provide age-appropriate working conditions for their ageing employees.’