Five office chair typologies for every kind of work style

Text by Claire Brodka
28.03.23

Whether at home or in the office, the chair we choose for work often has to fulfil unique – and distinctly different – functions depending on our individual needs and preferences.

Contemporary office chairs like Haworth's Fern design offer different users an unprecedented level of round-the-clock seating comfort, regardless of body size, stature or working style

‘The discontented man finds no easy chair’, American founding father Benjamin Franklin once said. While this certainly holds true for both men and women today, there are a number of ways in which the right choice of chair can uplift even the most pessimistic among us. This is especially true in the professional realm: with work being hard enough as it is, the right seating partner in crime can do wonders in (literally) softening the blow of a late night assignment or keeping us upright when we feel like crumbling under pressure.

With work being hard enough as it is, the right seating partner in crime can do wonders in (literally) softening the blow of a late night assignment or keeping us upright when we feel like crumbling under pressure

But how to decide on this trustiest of sidekicks? Depending on individual working styles, the type of chair that best serves a person’s specific needs can vary greatly in size, model and functionality. To help get the job done, we’ve paired five office chair typologies with their respective users.

Löffler's Knopfler is available in a variety of eye-catching colour that belie its ergonomic nature (top), while Haworth's Fern (bottom) openly signals spine-soothing comfort with its curved backrest

For the workaholic: ergonomic chairs

Our brains may be fried after a 12-hour work day, but ergonomic office chairs ensure that at least our bodies come out the other end largely unscathed. Designed to adapt to the individual through a cleverly engineered combination of spine-soothing lumbar support, adjustable armrests, variable seat height and cosy cushioning, models like Haworth’s Fern can accommodate both small and large movements and provide extended comfort during seemingly never-ending shifts.

For those who need an extra dose of colourful cushiness, Löffler’s ergonomic Knopfler model disguises its high-tech nature with a larger-than-life backrest that’s available in a multitude of bright shades.

Task chairs like Cherner's model with or without armrests (top) or Magis' Tuffy (bottom) are height-adjustable and lightweight for easy use and transportation around creative workspaces

For the creative: task chairs

If you are not contractually obliged to spend the larger part of your day statically staring at a screen or crouching over the latest numbers, the flexibility of height-adjustable task chairs may be just what the doctor ordered. These popular, usually low-backed chairs are often lighter and more moveable than their ergonomic counterparts.

Task chairs are often lighter and more moveable than their ergonomic counterparts. Whether it’s for wheeling around a studio or sketching at a standing desk, they provide ample room for creativity

Whether it’s for wheeling around a studio or sketching at a standing desk, the Cherner task chair provides ample room for creativity and comes with or without armrests. For those who prefer a more minimal design, Magis’ Tuffy chair delivers paired-down functionality with its screw-shaped height adjustment mechanism.

Armchairs might traditionally be associated with lounging or reading spaces, but TEAM 7's grand lui (top) as well as Kastel's Kriteria (bottom) proof that comfort has a place in the office, too

For the comfort seeker: armchairs

No matter if you’re one of the lucky few who can dictate their own schedule or quite simply work best at a leisurely pace: office armchairs are a great choice for those who prioritise a more comfortable environment. A popular choice for home offices, they can double as places to relax during lunch or be adapted for reading corners.

TEAM 7’s grand lui office swivel chair combines the best of both worlds with a three-dimensional armchair shape that envelops its user while remaining flexible thanks to its 360° designer castors. Kastel offers multiple versions of the Kriteria armchair to outfit a variety of workplace settings with a level of comfort that will ease the pain of long-winded presentations, uncomfortable reviews or difficult negotiations.

Size matters: at least as far as office chair backrests are concerned. Both Interstuhl's Vintageis5 (top) and LD Seating's Harmony (bottom) tower above the rest to underline their users authority

For the executive: chairs with a high backrest

Executive chairs are often considered in a class of their own. They provide a larger-than-life throne for their important occupants and enforce workplace hierarchies by the sheer power of their physical presence. They’re often drafted with a touch more flair than regular office chairs and highlight their stateliness with distinguishing features.

Executive chairs provide a larger-than-life throne for their important occupants and enforce workplace hierarchies by the sheer power of their physical presence

One such feature is particularly potent: a high backrest. Interstuhl’s Vintageis5 office chair, for instance, tops out at a whopping 1.4m and easily overshadows its other seating counterparts with its additional headrest and sleek leather upholstery. Harmony Modern by LD Seating is just as imposing, but provides a more lightweight alternative and distinguishes itself with interconnected, streamlined armrests.

For those that want to use their office chair as a design-forward focal point, David design's Skift Plus (top) or Vermund's VL119 (bottom) are pieces that impress with their sculptural shapes and attention to detail

For the design lover: accent chairs

If intimidation is not your style, but you’d still like to make a statement with your office chair of choice, an accent piece could be the way to go. There are a multitude of impactful ways to incorporate eye-catching chairs into the workspace, from bright colours to unusual shapes and materials.

While it may be more static than its wheeled cousins, Skift Plus by David design, for example, counts on its spidery legs and visible hardware for a dramatic and design-forward effect. Vermund’s VL119 is a chair classic that dates back to 1964 and draws the gaze with an unusual combination of sculptural shapes that make up its seat, arms and backrest.

Head to the Architonic Magazine for more insights on the latest products, trends and practices in architecture and design.