A Swiss Chair That Doubles as a Perch for Stand-Up Huddles
Published on 11/01/2026 at 02:30 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Office furniture makers have spent years nudging workers to move more, with mixed results. Studiotools is trying a different lever: a chair whose backrest flips forward to become a leaning post for stand-up meetings.
The Swiss company's new HighLow Chair, designed by Moritz Willm, was reported by yankodesign.com on 31.10.2026. Its trick is mechanical rather than digital — a backrest that folds over to convert a conventional swivel seat into something closer to a standing support.
Foam tuned to two postures
Getting one piece of furniture to serve two very different body positions meant varying the cushioning rather than the frame. Studiotools uses four different foam densities across the chair. The backrest carries a softer foam, while the lean support is built from a firmer grade intended to stay stable during standing briefings.
Underneath, the construction centres on a cylinder with a plywood core and two support surfaces set at different angles. The seat itself relies on webbing suspension for give.
Upholstery comes in Camira Yoredale Bouclé, offered in 33 colours. Braked castors let the chair be shifted quickly between room layouts, and depending on the version, between two and four HighLow Chairs can be stacked on top of one another.
An industry rethinking how people sit
Studiotools is not alone in chasing posture change. Aeris, through its Active Office concept, argues that ordinary height-adjustable desks often miss the goal of ergonomic movement on their own — they are used too rarely in daily work, and sometimes not as intended. The company favours work surfaces at differing heights that prompt faster switches between positions.
Classic task chairs are also getting more mobile. Klöber's LOOC, designed by Jörg Bernauer, mounts its seat and back elements on three-dimensionally movable bearings for active sitting. It drops PU foam entirely, relying instead on a load-bearing mesh structure with spring-core and 3D fabric technology.
Flexible furniture for flexible work
Turning a standard seat into a part-time standing aid speaks to the push for agile office space. Designer Dave Keune points to activity-based working, a principle that depends on furniture which is flexible and easy to move.
By serving as both a swivel chair and a standing support, the HighLow Chair is aimed at adapting meeting areas to dynamic teamwork without extra floor space or complicated mechanical conversions.
