At Savo, we believe that nurturing today’s creativity drives tomorrow’s innovation. That’s why we’ve partnered with students from Beckmans College of Design on their final industry project, offering mentorship and expertise to help shape their unique visions for the workspaces of the future.
Two groups of talented Product Design students were given access to Savo’s production site and tasked with reimagining office seating. They explored ergonomics, sustainability, and the balance between aesthetics and functionality, drawing inspiration from Savo’s expertise in the field.
Students: Siri Lövén, Karin Forsberg, Victoria Johansson.
One group of students explored seating that bridges residential and commercial, focusing on the balance between active and restful postures. Their innovative concepts merged kneeling and lounge chairs, aiming to create a hybrid solution that feels at home in any workspace.
The team explored existing designs, particularly the 1980s kneeling stool by Peter Opsvik, with the goal to create a chair that encourages taking breaks by offering distinct positions – one for work and another for relaxation. Prototyping involved testing angles and materials, with metal being favoured. “We chose a lot of metal and warm tones which works well for home offices since many people still work from home,” the team shared.
Students: Ellen Nilsson, August Bällgren, Emelie Svensson.
The second group delved into active sitting, designing a chair that combines ergonomics with the warmth of home. They used steel threads for prototyping which allowed them to explore and iterate more freely. The stool is intended for short periods of sitting, such as during breaks, and was intended to be inclusive and easy to use.
The team explained that they wanted to “encourage active sitting and accommodate all body shapes without the need for adjustments.” Future steps include the potential to incorporate environmental considerations and personalisation options.
The students approached the project with a thorough and thoughtful research process. They studied the brief in detail to fully understand the challenge and conducted in-depth research into existing designs and trends in office seating, including closely studying the research and Savo products gathered and exhibited at Studies in Seating (link). To gain deeper insights and ensure their concepts were rooted in real-world needs and preferences, they conducted questionnaires to gather perspectives and feedback.
“The students were meticulous with their research, exploring every detail of their designs with curiosity and focus. It was inspiring to see how they pushed boundaries to reimagine what office seating can be,” says Andreas Mattisson, Manager of Product Development at Savo.
You can see the results of the students at the Stockholm Furniture Fair in “The Greenhouse”, the dedicated space for tomorrow’s designers, between 4-8 February 2025. Head along to experience how these young designers are making their mark on the workspaces of the future.
