In Review… Orangebox’s Eva

David Lessard, design director at H+A, and Valentina Cereda, designer/architect and Feng Shui practitioner, joined Love That Design for an interesting afternoon at the Orangebox Smartworking Showroom in d3. The star of the gathering was Orangebox’s very light, nimble and intuitive chair, Eva, and by the end of our review session, both designers became fans of this sleek, sustainable package. In fact, we could not stop them from waxing lyrical…

If the Eva chair came packed in a lego box, we would not be surprised. Its components can be pulled apart, replaced, and put back together without the need for a manual. Plus, the good looks don’t hurt.

And then the there is the sustainability quotient. Orangebox are known for their highly upheld, green standards. And Eva is the result of intense research towards building an environmentally responsible and sustainable product design. In fact, the starting point of the entire journey was to create a task chair that boasts the most efficient combination of materials and design thinking.

From left: David Lessard, Design Director H+A, Valentine Cereda, Designer, Architect and Feng Shui Practitioner, and Anne Barron, Regional Manager, Orangebox MEA

The Simplicity of Design

Luke Palmer, Product Designer with Orangebox, explains that with Eva, the team decided to retain only the elements essential for the chair’s ergonomics, creating something much simpler. And by employing a clever weight balancing mechanism, they were also able to dispense with knobs and levers, paring down the design still further.

This is particularly evident in the backrest and arms, where the yoke follows a lovely linear journey, providing support where needed, yet maintaining a ‘lightness’ to the look. (The stormtrooper resemblance in the white coloured ones only added bonus points in our book!)

“Over the years, task chairs have become quite heavily engineered, with a lot of levers and gadgets,” says Anne Baron, Regional Manager, Orangebox MEA. “You can always design onto design, but to strip it back is difficult.” And as David mentioned, people often assume minimalism requires less effort, where on the contrary it actually demands a lot more.

Intuitive Features

“Research shows that over 90 percent of users don’t adjust their chair once they sit in it,” says Anne. “So it was really important for us to create a chair that was as intuitive as possible.”

A weight balancing synchro-mechanism, adjusts the tension in the back according to the weight of the person sitting in it, so it personalises the chair straight away. Pretty neat. Secondly, the mesh on the back has five different zones knitted-in for support (denser in the lumbar area, for additional support). “In the agile workspace, we wanted to make sure that this was a chair that could adapt from one user to another in an instant, without adjustments,” says Anne.

The Floating Arms

The arms employ a simple ratchet system, which is deliberate to keep the design as simple and minimal as possible. One click on the armrest lets it drop; you can then lift it up to any level you prefer. The movements in this mechanism are indeed very smooth, and quite addictive to play with (once you get the hang of it though, as it takes a few tries). We are extremely partial to the clicking noise, which does add a definitive aspect to the movement.

Height Adjustment

Catering to a global clientele that covers Scandinavia to Asia and everywhere in between, the seat height supports a broad demographic (420 to 570 mm). What we found quite impressive was Eva’s ability to cater to height adjustable desking as well, fitting in perfectly with the agile office concept. “To relieve pressure off the hips, you can allow yourself to perch in a near standing position,” Anne explains.

Travel Limiter

While the flowing back is good for blood circulation, and a recommended setting by chair manufacturers and ergonomists, in a market of millions not everyone would want this option. Some people may prefer more ownership of their chair, so they can choose their own level of recline (for example when writing reports or any other activity that requires a person to sit upright). “There is a controller under the chair that limits travel and locks at three different positions,” says Anne, “and it always comes back up with you. However, we do encourage users to maintain the setting at ‘Open’ as much as possible.”

Wellbeing and Sustainability

The clue is in the kind of materials used, as well as the breakdown of form into replaceable components, all of which contribute to longevity and sustainability ratings. The materials, for example, are mainly plastic and aluminium, with a distinct lack of chrome (something that could have upped the bar in sexier, more luxurious looks, but would seriously hurt the planet). We commend Orangebox on sticking to their green playbook, keeping it simple, and not giving in to gadgets and gimmickry.

“Most clients would want to change their chair because of damage to the mesh or the seat. Or they need a brand refresh, which normally means a change of colour,” says Anne. The Eva on the hand, has components that can be easily taken apart, and the parts, seating, or mesh, changed at any time. This, in our view, is fantastic from a sustainability standpoint, as it extends the life cycle of the chair. Anne further points out that accessories can be added to modify the chair for different demographics and users, such as an adjustable lumbar support for those with lower back concerns or a coccyx cutout in the seat. This further allows the user to hold on to their chair, rather than opt for a new one, yet again prolonging its lifespan. Great for sustainability, not so good for business. But that is where Orangebox excel – at providing quality products with a longer life, and not keeping the focus entirely on the bottom line. Valentina comments that before choosing any product, she always looks into the manufacturing process. “It’s an important part of our design ethos, and Eva really ticks all the boxes,” she says.

Eva’s ease of use also greatly adds to wellbeing, as David points out. “Higher green ratings is something we are always looking to achieve in the projects we design. We would never compromise human health and experience, so Eva certainly fits the bill there.

Its ease of functionality and intuitiveness reduces stress levels that much more. Stress can come from many factors and even the little things that you do throughout the day, whether it’s queueing for coffee, or getting lost in a building. So a chair that won’t make you go nuts, since you don’t have to adjust it, helps wellbeing as part of a bigger picture.”

Lumbar Support and Seating

Possibly one of the coolest features of this chair is the knitted mesh back that, ergonomically speaking, is great for precise give and support, exactly where it’s needed. It is also fantastically easy to clean, take apart as a component, and replace. And, as Luke explains, during the manufacturing process, the mesh cleverly shrinks to almost solid plastic around the edges, eliminating the need for additional parts and sewing processes, and making it one of the easiest materials to assemble and recycle.

It has five different support zones, the lumbar obviously being the one with the tightest knit for greater hold. As you move, the lumbar moves with you which, as David mentioned, is a godsend for his S-shaped spine that makes it quite difficult for him to do planks in the gym, but would find gracious lumbar support in the Eva!

Price

The majority of the chair’s cost can be attributed to the wide use of aluminium to create lightness in both weight and aesthetics, but still give strength. The price tag, given its long lifespan, is actually then quite okay. And our designers seem to agree. David thought that not only was it just right for the chair, but also good value. And Valentina went as far as to say that she thought it was underpriced, considering how much thought and research went into the paring down of design.

So What Do We Think…

All parties in this review agree that this is one chair we were hard pressed to find fault with. It probably won’t be on a calendar for the sexiest looking any time soon, but the Eva replaces external gadgetry and bling with an unassuming lightness and simplicity of design, followed by ease of use and comfort that has you hooked from the moment you sit. Plus the extremely high sustainability quotient just makes it the true hero of the show.

When questioned about a family of chairs for Eva as an option to furnish larger interior design projects, Anne informed us that the Eva can be upgraded to polished metal with a headrest for a more luxurious look. The Eva does not come in a visitor chair option.

“However, clients have bought this as a visitor chair as well, since it fits in an agile work environment,” she says. For those looking, Orangebox do offer the Workday from their portfolio, which is a mesh back visitor chair, as a complementary option to the Eva, should the need arise.

Design Story

How to set up the Eva chair