Swing Chair

‘Swing' chair, made of black powder-coated spring steel and aluminium, designed by Herbert and Jutta Ohl, marketed by Rosenthal GmbH, Germany, 1982. Cantilevered chair with ergonomic seat and back, made of concentric rods of varying elasticity that bend and adapt naturally to the user’s weight

‘Swing’ is a stackable and mobile ergonomic chair whose seat and back are created of concentric aluminium and spring steel rods. It is assembled solely by accurate press-fit joining of all parts into holes without using any mechanical joints. The rods are elastic on the outside but become more rigid towards the middle. This ensures that the seat bends and adapts to the user’s weight while also supporting the spine. To achieve dynamic rather than static sitting, the feet rest on the ground and the body can oscillate back and forth like on a rocking chair.

According to the NHS, adults in the UK spend on average nine hours a day sitting. This puts strain and pressure on the body and can lead to various health problems ranging from muscle aches and pains to cardiovascular diseases. Ergonomic furniture, which is adjustable and adapted to the different shapes of human bodies, helps to improve the user’s posture and can play a big role in preventing injuries.

‘Swing’ was designed by the German couple Herbert and Jutta Ohl in 1982 and marketed by the Rosenthal GmbH. Herbert Ohl was a prominent German designer and architect with connections to interesting persona and institutions in post-war Germany. Among others, he was the director of the Ulm School of Design which is considered the internationally most renowned design academy after the Bauhaus period.