A Visit to The Store

Max and I decided the best way to get a base line for our first chair iteration would be to sit in some chairs. We visited "Hive" and "Design within Reach"on Wednesday, two Downtown Portland Chair suppliers,  to get an Idea of what qualities a comfy chair should posses.  Below are some shots of the chairs we sat in (Max pictured).

Eames Chair: Seated all the way back felt ok

Eames molded Wood: Seated in a slouch position felt better

Eames Executive Aluminum Series:  Very Comfortable, Pivoting allows user to find best angle for back

Tom Vac Chair:  Low seat back made user feel like the might fall  out of chair

Unknown At this time: Very Comfortable, Angle between seat and seat back ideal.

Unknown at this time: Seat back height is at center of back (uncomfortable) construction, plastic,  felt weak.

Eames plastic rocker:  Seat height too low to find comfort via rocking back.  May have been more comfortable for shorter person.

Eames plastic: Comfortable when Slouched

Our trip to these stores made us aware of how finding comfort in a chair can be aided by a natural flexibility inherent in the construction materials.  Also the chair's ability to rock or slightly pivot can also help the user achieve comfort more easily.  Location of seat back height can prove negative if it falls at the center part of the seated persons back.  Chairs with higher seat backs gave user more confidence towards its integrity.   

Our trip also gave insight that owning any of these chairs in the near future is certainly out of the question.  A Barcelona lounger (not pictured) runs $4,500.