The Aeron chair, a relatively recent invention from the 21st century, swiftly ascended to become one of the most renowned and beloved office chairs. Its debut in 1994 marked a significant revolution in the office furniture industry, as the chair managed to innovate both in terms of ergonomics and materials. The use of a proprietary textile, Pellicle, set it apart, allowing the chair to maintain an elegant, chic design while offering a high degree of flexibility without the need for traditional upholstery. This groundbreaking design was crafted by Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf.
Don Chadwick’s journey into furniture design began after attending a lecture by the famous designers Charles and Ray Eames. His passion led to an opportunity with Herman Miller in 1972, where his designs flourished under the brand. Bill Stumpf joined Herman Miller in 1970 and was responsible for creating the Ergon chair, Herman Miller’s most popular chair before the Aeron. Prior to their collaboration on the Aeron Chair, Stumpf and Chadwick also designed the Equa chair, which received Time magazine’s “Best of the Decade” award for design, and the Sarah Chair, whose development contributed to the innovation behind the Aeron Chair.
Since its launch, the Aeron chair has garnered numerous awards, including the “Good Design Award” in Japan (1996), “Design of the Decade” in China (1999), “Design of the Decade” in the US (2000), and the “Good Design Long Life Design Award” in Japan (2011). It has also earned a place in MoMA as a permanent collection piece.
Despite receiving only one major update with the assistance of Don Chadwick, the Aeron Chair has maintained its iconic aesthetic while incorporating advancements in the science of sitting and improvements in materials, manufacturing, and technology. The updates introduced a more refined tilt mechanism, adjustable postures, and an updated version of the Pellicle material for enhanced suspension.