KINNARPS ON ERGONOMICS, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
YOUR BODY. OUR CONCERN. You have just one body. The one we care about.
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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It’s about people. ERGONOMICS IS USUALLY DEFINED as the science of how worktools and the working environment affect people. If you remember one word from this definition, it should be ’people’. Because it’s us – you and I and our unique qualities – who are the starting point for everything Kinnarps does in the field of ergonomics. The furniture we develop, manufacture and sell helps us to create good, well thought-out interior design solutions and more pleasant workplaces. But most importantly of all: Our work makes people feel good and be happy at work. We live in an era of constant change, fast technological development and new demands on professional performance. So it is more important than ever to stop and reflect on how we work and what it means for us. And that is exactly what we want to do here, in a project that started as a brochure but ended up as a magazine full to the brim with health. It’s about well-being at work, and it’s about Kinnarps. Because ergonomics is so deeply rooted in who we are and what we do. But even that isn’t the end of it. As I read through what we have collated, I realise that it’s about so much more than how we sit, stand, carry stuff and meet each other at work. It’s about society. It’s about life. It’s about people. I hope you enjoy the read!
Per-Arne Andersson CEO, KINNARPS AB
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
CON TENT
6–7
OUR PHILOSOPHY OF HOLISTIC ERGONOMICS
8–11
PEOPLE IN FOCUS
18–21
RESEARCHING THE ERGONOMICS OF THE FUTURE
22–23
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
How Kinnarps fill square metres with well-being. Ergonomist Lena Lehmann on the incomparable human body. Rob Stuthridge advocates change in the workplace. The health coach teaches us the basics of Functional Food.
32–35 NEW DISSERTATION FROM ARAM SEDDIGH The researcher explains the link between office type and performance.
YOU CAN ALSO READ THIS: 12. THINGS WE LIKE Things and phenomena that make us feel good. 16. EXERCISE YOURSELF FITTER Active choices in everyday life improve health. 26. TREND ALERT Trend scout Stefan Nilsson looks ahead. 30. FROM DESK TO BEAN BAG. The perfect office takes on a new shape. 54. ERGONOMIC HISTORY A few milestones in Kinnarps’ ergonomic development. 64. FIELDS New activity-based office furniture 66. THE CONNECTION Elisabeth Slunge summarises ergonomics.
The facts in this publication have been checked by Anna-Lisa Osvalder. Professor in Human Machine Systems and Senior Lecturer in Ergonomics at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg.
36-39
NEXT OFFICE™ T he The offices of the future
switch between postures.
40–41
IMPORTANT VISIONS WITH GIUSEPPE BOSCHERINI
42–45
THE QUIET REVOLUTION
46–51
INSPIRING INTERIORS
56–57
PRACTISING WHAT WE PREACH
58–59
ERGONOMICS IN PRACTICE
62–63
BRIGHTER TIMES AT WORK
On the interaction between ergonomics and architecture. How sound affects our working environment. We make colour-coded inspiration a priority. The highest ambitions at Kinnarps. Five reliable tips for a better working position. The latest news about biological lighting.
HOLISTIC ERGONOMICS
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
Nowadays, Kinnarps’ ergonomic work is
FOCUS ON HOLISTIC ERGONOMICS
which foster well-being from every point of
concerned more with well-being and health
By using flexible solutions, innovative
view. This is also the purpose of our major
than with furniture – with handling all the
technology and intelligent combinations of
investment in ergonomics: to fill our customers’
tools necessary for individually customising
chairs, tables, lighting, colour schemes and
workspace with good health!
a workplace for different conditions, needs
sound insulation measures, we develop a
and bodies. For us, ergonomics is about
holistic ergonomic outlook which takes the
To encourage increased well-being, we have
people, quite simply.
whole person into account. We take account
put together an entire magazine filled with
of how people interact with work tools, with
some of our know-how, interesting research,
Ergonomics is so much more than standing,
their environment, with their work tasks and
exciting articles on training, nutrition and
carrying and sitting correctly. For us at Kinnarps,
with other individuals to create tailor-made,
trends, and interviews with inspiring people –
ergonomics means primarily feeling well – in
individually planned and stimulating environ-
for inspiring people. Because no matter who
the head, body and soul. Our goal is to fill offices
ments where flexibility, mobility and variation
you are, we at Kinnarps want you to feel even
with well-being rather than with furniture. So
are our keywords for the most important
better at work.
our starting point is every individual’s capacity to
thing: Good health at work.
remain healthy at work. Because we know from experience that there are as many needs as
FILL WORKSPACE WITH HEALTH
there are workers in a workplace.
We are experts in creating environments
HOW THE BODY WORKS
With the body as the most important tool You are at home. The phone rings and an intense conversation starts. You hold your mobile in your hand and against your ear, and start walking round while you talk. After a while you put your headset on and put the phone in your pocket. Now you can devote yourself fully to the conversation. You move, gesticulate and describe with your body language what your caller will never see but can nevertheless feel. Many of today’s workplaces take advantage of the good ergonomic work situations which a home environment offers. Because ergonomics is at its best when we can customise our working environment so that it gives optimal results both for us and for the task we are to carry out. In order to do this, we need to understand something about our incomparable body.
We hand over to Lena Lehmann, ergonomist and certified physiotherapist with solid experience of the link between a good working environment and a healthy body.
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
HOW THE BODY WORKS
MOVEMENT
When we do sit, we should sit really well. This is exactly why we
We human beings are, from every point of view, designed for movement,
need work tools and furniture which are flexible and easy to customise
and our functions – from nervous system to digestion – depend on
to the characteristics of each individual.
the fact that we move about. We should therefore create efficient ergonomic environments which provide good scope for physical
RECUPERATION
activity. Despite this, we often prioritise thinking. We have increasingly
Just as much as we need movement and activity, we need to wind
given our brain the priority, and customised our environments for
down and recharge our batteries. It is not enough to take a few weeks
seated activities such as using a computer, watching TV and reading
off per year – we need to regularly consider active rest. From tension
demanding documents. Since people are creatures of habit, we have
comes relaxation, and vice versa.
got used to thinking that this is how it should be, and devoted a lot of effort, time and money to attempting to customise the human body to
Stress is a force which is in general good for us, and stimulates
lengthy periods of sitting.
us to be creative – provided that it is combined with recuperation. We fall ill most often not because of stress itself, but because of lack
Today, there is research which supports the strong link between
of recuperation. A good working environment creates the necessary
movement and well-being. It tells us that we should sit less and that
conditions for recuperation during working time. >>
the sitting we do should be high-quality and healthy.
W E FA L L I L L M O S T OFTEN NOT BECAUSE OF STRESS ITSELF, BUT BECAUSE OF LACK O F R E C U P E R AT I O N.
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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Ergonomics is the study of work. This means that we all need to understand, first of all, what our work situation requires and how we can NYourselves BILD KOMMER equip with good
working postures, the right tools, variation and the training needed for a sustainable working life.
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
THE BACK
or defective eyesight and raised stress levels, all of which lead to
The back is one of our body’s weakest links, and needs to be treated
increased tension in the neck and shoulders, oxygen deficiency in
with respect. It consists of 32-35 vertebrae, each of which has its own
the muscles is inevitable.
unique position and its own unique function. The anatomical configuration of the backbone has an S-like shape, which we should try to
Good ergonomics for the neck and shoulders means creating environ-
maintain as far as possible when we sit. We do this with the aid of both
ments where we can work with a relaxed neck and shoulders, take
ergonomically-designed chairs and the surrounding muscles.
regular breaks and vary our working posture to stimulate the flow of blood, as well as offering a good indoor environment with adequate
As whole days of sitting still mean that we no longer strain our bodies
lighting. The design of the furniture and individual customisation
naturally in our everyday lives, we may need to give our own ’muscle
make a beneficial distribution of weight possible.
corset’ some training. Fitness training, if done correctly, can prevent problems by making our muscles stronger. It is important to remember
HANDS AND ARMS
that the seated position – in spite of good chairs – is unnatural for the
Excessive strain means that the body has been subjected to some-
back, which is a further reason to vary our working posture between
thing too heavy, or has been doing something for too long or too
sitting and standing.
many times. Office work is generally not heavy work, but it involves the frequent repetition of the same small movements in the hands
NECK AND SHOULDERS
and forearms during the working day. Two commonly occurring and
Our system is like a gurgling stream in springtime. We benefit from a
painful complaints connected with monotonous movements while
constant flow, a continuous circulation. If it stops, there is a risk that
using a computer are mouse arm and carpal tunnel syndrome. These
the flow will be obstructed. Our office jobs entail lengthy static time
complaints can be prevented with the aid of good work tools and by
for the shoulders and the neck area. The blood vessels through which
changing our working posture from time to time.
our blood has to surge in order to supply our ’data muscles’ with oxygen are extremely narrow. They are so narrow that a drop of blood
Challenge your habits and switch your mouse from one hand to the
filled with oxygen has to fold itself double in order to get through. This
other, use short commands and ensure a working posture which is
means that even tense working postures with low strain cause a lack
customised to your own height and size. All monotonous, unvarying
of oxygen in the muscles, with pain and injury as a result. If we also
work tasks should also be regularly interrupted to allow that gurgling
take into account that we have poor lighting, a draught from a window
stream – our fantastic body – to flow.
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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THINGS WE LIKE
CYCLING IN STYLE The Brompton folding bicycle is as stylish as it is flexible. The bike,
Certain things around us catch our attention and make us curious and
which is hand-built in England, folds together – or unfolds – in
inquisitive. Here are a few gadgets which are in tune with the spirit of
20 seconds. You equip your cycle to suit your own needs by choosing
the times, and which we think are worth highlighting. Things we like,
from many different finishes and options before you place your
which would make our day-to-day lives a little bit more attractive, fun
order – all to customise your cycling to your own characteristics
and maybe even a little bit more ergonomic.
and your own comfort.
MULTI-TASKING LUNCH PACK With a neat, practical, rollable Compleat lunchbox made of food-quality silicon and with no plastic chemicals you can – along with a dash of good planning – keep your energy level high right through the working day. It doesn’t take up space when not in use, can be put straight into the dishwasher and works just as well as a pencil case, make-up bag or storage case for your charger lead.
INSECTFULLNESS They are rich in protein, easy to keep, live on rubbish and can be bred almost anywhere. Insects are tipped to be the trend food of the future, and a climate-smart alternative to meat. Although more than 2 billion people eat them regularly, not everyone is prepared to pop a crispy little insect into their mouth.
ACCENTUATE MORE Colour in a room plays a decisive role for our total experience,
So start on a small scale,
and the psychology of colour is a chapter in itself, which
for example with Nutri-
ergonomists and architects are well acquainted with. After an
Bugs Pro Pasta, made of brown rice and insect flour.
inspiring stop-off at the design week in Milan, we can report that the colour range is now shifting from matt pastels towards more lively shades. Keep your eyes open especially for tones of red, yellow and Kinnarps blue during the coming season.
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
LISTENING IN STYLE Headphone manufacturer Aëdle produce some of slimmest phones on the market. The Valkyrie VK-1’s combination of aluminium and leather creates a durable lightweight headphone which sits comfortably on the head and ears – all day long. In 2015 the company was awarded the Red Dot, a prestigious awarded in product design, for aesthetics and design in combination with fascinating sound quality.
AT ONE WITH NATURE
TAILOR-MADE SNEAKERS
MOVNAT, MOVE NATURALLY, is the new training
A well-fitting shoe is healthy
concept where you find the primitive human being in
and ergonomically correct for the
yourself. It is tipped to be the next big craze in fitness heaven. By training outdoors, barefoot and with the aid
body. The body feels good with the right bounce in the shoes.
of movements we had as animals, we find our way back
With Nike’s NIKEiD service, you
to our evolutionary and biological origins. Instead of
customise your shoes yourself,
machines or treadmills, the challenge is posed by trees, stones and the obstacles in the terrain itself.
exactly as you want them. You design your everyday shoe or training shoe from scratch and choose the material, sole and colours. Decide for yourself whether you want to tailor it according to performance or design – or both.
TRANSFORMABLE LIGHTING Light is essential for us, and one of the fundamental elements of a good working environment. We like Arend Groosman’s Transformable Lamp, which comes as a kit for you to put together yourself, constructing it according to your own liking, taste and creativity. The lamp is hand-made from birch, with every part precisely calculated to minimise waste
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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EVERYDAY EXERCISE
EXERCISE YOURSELF FIT WITH ERGONOMIC FURNITURE, YOU SIT AND STAND PROPERLY AT WORK. BUT YOUR BODY NEEDS MORE THAN THAT. PHYSICAL EXERCISE IS THE BEST WAY TO INCREASED WELL-BEING FOR BOTH BODY AND MIND. SPECIALIST NURSE AND EXERCISE ENTHUSIAST ANGELICA BAUER HAS HER FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THE EVERYDAY EXERCISE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
IT’S THE SMALL CHANGES in our everyday lives that make the
do some simple movement exercises.” For those who want clear to their
big difference, according to Angelica Bauer, who is a keen advocate
head with a real pulse-raiser after lunch, Angelica recommends interval
of effective everyday exercise. It’s about little by little introducing
and circle training in various forms.
new, simpler routines in our lives which, thanks to continuity and planning, make an active choice for better health. Effective as in
”It’s short and intensive but nevertheless gives you good all-round exercise.
”big effect, little effort”, but also cost-effective in terms of time.
A quick interval training kick-starts the body and gives quick results, but
Because everyday exercise is, and should be, simple – both to do
only on condition that you really tire yourself out.”
and to find time for. REST IS IMPORTANT
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”Cycle to work, get off the bus one stop sooner or take a quick walk after
Resting is equally important as exercise, Angelica points out. Today’s
lunch. Skip the afternoon coffee break and go out for a breath of fresh air
stress-filled society has a negative effect on us, both physically and
instead, and use the stairs instead of the lift. Use every little opportunity
mentally. Additional stress makes our bodies secrete the hormone
to create a big, long-term change that can be seen and felt. If you have a
cortisol, and too much cortisol reduces our insulin production, which in
sedentary job, take a break at regular intervals – stand up, stretch or
turn causes raised blood sugar levels, which leads to excess weight and
Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
EVERYDAY EXERCISE
WHEN YOU HAVE LEARNED RELAXATION COMES YOU FEEL CALMER,
PRACTISING WHAT SHE PREACHES. Angelica Bauer practises what she preaches. A quick kettlebell session in her lunch break, rather than a long lunch with meatballs. By the way, Angelica is one of Kinnarps’ body
HAVE BETTER
models in our black and white campaign photos.
Name: ANGELICA BAUER
MUSCLE AWARENESS
Age: 33 Lives in: Linköping, Sweden PROFESSION: Specialist nurse, with her own company TO FEEL WELL: I eat well and train about four times
AND FREER BREATHING.
a week. I try to keep a good balance between activity and relaxation. HOW I LIKE TO TRAIN: I mix weight training with group work-outs and some form of aerobics. And I love my morning walks!
obesity. Raised stress levels also negate the effects of our exercise, and
FINDING CONTINUITY
then it does not matter how hard we exercise or how well we eat, because
Regardless of which level you aim for, the best results come from the
the cortisol breaks our body down instead of building it up.
exercise that you actually do. If your new routines are to become everyday routines, it is important that they give you energy and that you can do the
”MINI-BREAKS AND SHORT
exercises consistently.
RECOVERY PERIODS DURING THE DAY ARE IMPORTANT FOR HOW YOU FEEL.”
”Experiment to find the various types of movement and exercise that you enjoy and that fit into your everyday life. Everything from a low-intensity
”A short period of meditation or relaxation is a really good thing to find
morning walk to your workplace to a high-intensity run with your colleagues
time for from a health point of view. Mini-breaks and short recovery periods
at lunchtime. Whatever you choose, it should be something you look forward
during the day are important for how you feel. When you’ve learned to
to. If you’re a beginner, start gently but never be afraid to challenge your-
relax, you’ll feel calmer, have better awareness of your body and breathe
self. That’s the only way to become stronger, have better endurance and
more freely. The ability to relax is essential for rest, recuperation and
get visible results. The other benefits of a more active everyday life will be
deep sleep, all of which improve your performance.”
tangible much sooner.”
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
IN THE FUTURE,
PEOPLE WILL COME FIRST IN A WORKING LIFE FULL OF QUICK CHANGES, O U R A B I L I T Y TO B E C R E AT I V E A N D I N N O VAT I V E I S T H E K E Y TO S U C C E SS . B U T W H AT R O L E D O E S T H E D E S I G N O F T H E W O R K P L A C E P L AY FO R O U R C R E AT I V I T Y ? A N D H O W A R E E R G O N O M I C S A N D I N N O VAT I O N C O N N E CT E D ? ERGONOMICS RESEARCHER ROB STUTHRIDGE THINKS IT I S A L W A Y S A M AT T E R O F P U T T I N G P E O P L E F I R S T.
THE CONDITIONS, possibilities and
well, if we are to believe the behavioural
but they are going to find it difficult to main-
demands of working life are changing rapidly.
scientist and ergonomics researcher
tain their position in the future.”
Researchers and other experts agree on
Robert Stuthridge. UNCERTAINTY IS GOOD FOR DEVELOPMENT
this. To put it simply, we are moving from a predictable and controlled working life to one
”We humans are creative and innovative
Robert Stuthridge thinks that the physical
that is increasingly characterised by change.
beings by nature, but our work offers greater
environment is often a mirroring and
To be successful in this new, more unpredict-
or lesser opportunities to find an outlet for
magnification of the culture of a workplace.
able – but also freer – working life, individ-
these qualities. The least opportunities are to
It can impede or stimulate the individual’s
uals, organisations and society as a whole
be found in workplaces characterised by
creativity, and help or obstruct the organ-
must be creative and innovative.
control, routines and fear of change. Where
isation in developing its full potential. The
the staff are viewed as production units,
most successful organisations accept change,
The question is how today’s workplaces help
rather than people. Unfortunately, there are
encourage new thinking and use design to
us to live up to this demand. Not particularly
still quite a lot of these sort of workplaces,
stimulate discussions, inventiveness >>
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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and development. Others are instead based
tion. The most simple way to express it is that
Even if the employees have different tasks,
on control and boundaries, and would prefer
both creativity and ergonomics entail putting
the workplace doesn’t need to be physically
to eliminate all uncertainty through rules and
people first. Adapting the job to the individual,
divided. Robert Stuthridge thinks that
routines which deter the employees from
rather than the reverse.”
physical divisions contribute to separation
innovative thinking and action.
between teams and departments when we Does that mean that the most ergonomic
should, instead, be creating a feeling of
”Excessive control kills peoples’ creativity and
workplaces are also the most creative and
shared engagement in how the organisation
makes the organisation sluggish, ponderous
innovative?
performs.
and, in some way, inhuman. Development
”Of course, it’s not quite that simple. Or rather
arises, instead, from a positive attitude to
– it depends on your view of ergonomics. If the
”For example, a salesperson can choose to
uncertainty and change. By being quick-
term is used superficially, and simply refers
sit with someone in the accounts department,
witted and fleet-footed, and having flexibility
to the workplace’s physical design, then
because they get on well together or because
inscribed in their DNA, organisations not only
ergonomics doesn’t have much to do with
they both like that particular spot in the office.
survive all changes, but actually derive benefit
creativity. But if we understand that ergonomics
The point is to offer an inclusive environment
from them.”
isn’t just about how we sit, stand and carry
that the individuals can customise according
things, but about a holistic way of thinking
to their wishes and work tasks.
FOR HEART AND HEAD
about people, organisations and technology –
In other words, Robert Stuthridge is suggest-
then, yes, ergonomics has a major impact on
On a more tangible and detailed level, it can
ing that work should be planned, organised
inventiveness.
entail flexible furniture and mobile solutions
and performed in a way which utilises the
that suit everybody, regardless of age or physical
individual’s potential for fresh ideas. The
ENCOURAGES NEW THINKING
capacity, and areas that can quickly be modified
workplace’s physical design is an important
So how are person- or human-centred work-
to incorporate new technology and new ways
tool in realising this ambition.
places designed? An overall requirement is
of working together.”
that there are no hierarchies in the physical ”We should try to create a working environment
design. Instead, it should reflect a horizontal
Of course, everything that Robert Stuthridge
that feels comfortable and appeals to both
organisational model in which innovation
says places high demands on management:
heart and head. Without compromising on
and development can arise anywhere, and it
”As I see it, the task of management is
function, workplaces must take actual people
should affirm the importance of the individual
increasingly to remove obstacles to the staff’s
as their starting point – who they are and
in enabling the organisation to thrive and
inventiveness. Don’t get in the way and don’t
what they are capable of, both individually and
perform well. The innovative workplace
stop people’s natural impulses to come up
collectively. We have to create person-centred
contributes to the organisation’s functionality
with fresh ideas. Uncertainty and change
rather than process-centred workplaces.”
and capacity to achieve its targets, for example
are an unavoidable part of working life, and
in terms of profit, but it is also a pleasant
organisations that want to be successful in
Is there any connection between what you
place to be in. It enables people to meet in a
the future must utilise people’s capacity to
are saying about creativity and ergonomics?
natural way, as they would also be able to do
be creative.”
”Absolutely, a strong and self-evident connec-
outside work.
”... both creativity and ergonomics entail putting people first. Adapting the job to the individual, rather than the reverse.”
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
”If the term ’ergonomics’ is used in a superficial sense and only refers to the physical design of the workplace, then ergonomics has little to do with creativity. But if we understand that ergonomics isn’t just about how we sit, stand and carry things, but about a holistic way of thinking about people, organisations and technology – then, yes, ergonomics has a major impact on inventiveness.”
Robert Stuthridge Ph.D., CPE, is a social scientist and ergonomist. In his research he has investigated the causes of work design errors. Dr. Stuthridge has worked in the human factors field for more than 20 years and operates consultancies in the UK and USA.
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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E AT I N G FO R H E A LT H
FUNC TIONAL FOOD Interest in functional food, in other words food which optimises the body’s functioning, is growing to bursting point. We got in touch with Anneli Hallberg, cook, health coach and personal trainer, who is pleased to tell us more about how we can feel better.
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
E AT I N G FO R H E A LT H
FUNCTIONAL FOOD might seem like a new
vegetables are shining examples of natural
in the evening, or buy something unnecessary
term, but was actually coined in the 1980s,
functional food. I’d like to see us begin to
on the way home, because you’re so exhausted
when a research programme was started in
classify fruit and vegetables as functional
and hungry. This wears the body out.
Japan to chart the health effects of various
food, and give the vegetable stall its own
foodstuffs. In Asia it is traditionally normal
function list where we can read what all those
”Lunchboxes are good, but they need a bit
to regard food as medicine, and vice versa.
vegetables do to the body. Eating more vege-
of care and planning to really fulfil their
The stomach is regarded as central – that is
tables is sustainable both for our health and
function. If your lunchbox contains too much
where the soul is located, and it is therefore
for our planet.”
of everything, it doesn’t seem particularly
important what we put in it. It is also impor-
appetising, and there’s a risk that you’ll go out
tant, in the Orient, to prevent illness rather
PLAN YOUR FOOD
instead, and eat something else, something
than curing it.
Functional food is not a diet or a magic cure.
less nutritious.”
The cornerstones of a good diet, according ”We don’t always remember that what we
to Hallberg, are: eat regularly, eat breakfast,
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
eat should help all the body’s cells, muscles,
eat lots of vegetables and drink water. Limit
Anneli believes in acquiring a modicum
heart and brain to work at their best, without
sugar, semi-finished products and alcohol as
of knowledge from scientific websites or
complications,” says Hallberg. ”We want to be
much as possible. Eat more vegetables and
enlisting the help of a dietician or nutritional
healthy and to function properly, but we stuff
cut down on meat and fast carbohydrates.
advisor. Even more than this, though, she
our bodies with food that doesn’t give us what
encourages everyone to become better at
we need. If we know more about functional
”A good diet depends a lot on planning. People
food, we can become better at filling our
often skip a meal, or don’t eat breakfast,
bodies, day by day, with food that helps it to
because they haven’t got time. If you take
”I think that as an individual you often know
function.”
30 seconds to think through what you’re going
best which food is good for you – if you learn
listening to the body’s signals.
to eat tomorrow, and when you’re going to eat
to feel. We are all different, and need different
The best-known foodstuffs in functional food
it, it will be easier to stick to your plan. Have
food. Get into the habit of checking how you
are dairy products with beneficial bacterial
I got what I need for tomorrow? If not, what
react to different foods and which food keeps
cultures, high-fibre bread and pasta products
shall I do? Can I do my shopping on the way to
you in a good mood, and think about your
and margarines with beneficial Omega-3
work, or at lunchtime? The only person who
eating habits. Only when you know why you
fatty acids.
can say what you need in order to put your life
have such a craving for sweets can you do
puzzle together is you.”
something about it. Be aware of how you feel
”These do their job, but ”adding functionality”
when you eat a lot of sugar, compared with
is also a good way of promoting yourself and
At work, it’s easy to skip lunch or eat too little, to
functional food. Of course there’s a place for
selling more products. Beans, nuts and
save time. The result is often that you eat more
cakes, but not as a substitute for food.”
“ W E D O N ’ T A LW AY S R E M E M B E R T H AT W E A R E W H AT W E E AT . ”
NAME: Anneli Hallberg
countryside with my dogs, playing beach
AGE: 41
volleyball or cuddling up in my easy chair
LIVES IN: Gothenburg
at home.
PROFESSION: After ten years as a cook,
MY FAVOURITE DISH: Cod with egg sauce
I retrained as a health educator. Now I run my
and potatoes, peas and broccoli.
own company, where I work as a health coach
WHAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD: Spending time
and personal trainer with a focus on weight
with people I love, working on my personal
reduction and sustainable healthy habits.
development and being out in the countryside.
WHEN I’M NOT WORKING: I’m out in the
Accelerating and slowing down!
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ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS
A HEALTHY PERSONAL UNIQUE FUTURE
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS
STEFAN NILSSON IS ONE OF SWEDEN’S LEADING TREND EXPERTS AND A POPULAR LECTURER AND COMMUNICATOR. HE ALWAYS HAS HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE, AND IS AWARE SOONER THAN MOST PEOPLE OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE AT KINNARPS WONDERED WHAT STEFAN THOUGHT ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ERGONOMICS AND HEALTH AT WORK.
TRENDS AND ERGONOMICS perhaps don’t
resembling sports clothing, and the conference table became a
seem to be an obvious combination. Trends
temporary ping-pong table.
are often thought of as short-term solutions, such as a certain colour choice for a certain
The environmental issue and personal engagement also became
year, and ergonomics is thought of as efficiency
more prominent during 2015. It’s now ten years since Al Gore’s film
and well-being in the office. But of course
’An Inconvenient Truth’, and at this year’s design week in Milan there
ergonomics also follows the spirit of the times.
was a demo against the production of too many unnecessary new things. 2015 was definitely the year when anti-consumption made
Historically speaking, the office has changed. After the first world war
an impact. One of the most influential people globally in the world of
came the first solutions for relations between humans and machines.
design, Daniel Charny, thinks we are moving towards a world where
In the 1970s came ergonomic chairs. In the 1990s, computers and
we will be more involved in the production of products. To give us a
the paperless office. Around the turn of the millennium, the scope
feeling of participating more – and especially by recycling. He calls the
for mobile solutions exploded and we could work in different places.
movement ’makers & fixers’, and includes everything from ordinary
When the home or lounge enticed us away from the workplace, the
home-made projects to advanced 3D-printed stuff. But everything is
new workplace became more like the home, with nice-looking home
self-made, and the opposite of mass-produced and ’quick fix’.
sofas, ordinary kitchen lamps and so on. This is a movement which can obviously be linked to the personalisation There are a number of current trends at the moment. The first is
trend, where everything should be personal and environmentally
about health and well-being. Another movement concerns personal
friendly. So in an office that bears the hallmark of ’makers & fixers’,
expression and has its own subculture called makers & fixers.
we’ll see recycled office furniture in constant change. To give a clearer image, think of the white office – and now think the opposite. In come
The health trend really exploded during 2015. All of a sudden, every-
odd chairs, different tables, strange-looking lamps, and preferably
one had to go for a run at lunchtime, and bosses talked about the
a touch of yourself in the furniture. When you have participated in
importance of exercising. Offices were redesigned to encourage more
creating your working environment, your well-being and performance
movement. Maybe the coffee machine didn’t need to be quite so near?
will improve. If nothing else, you should have an exercise session
Environments were filled with furniture upholstered with material
at lunchtime.
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KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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THE WORK OF GENERATIONS
FROM DESK TO BEAN BAG
Most office workers prioritise access to a gym at work over a good kitchen, an espresso machine or a nice view. The fact is that as many as 27 per cent want to have a gym at work, which makes it the third most demanded item. Only modern and ergonomic work equipment is more important! This is according to a survey carried out in autumn 2015 by Kinnarps and United Minds.
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
THE WORK OF GENERATIONS
ENDLESS SOFA GROUPS AND GOOD WI-FI OR ERGONOMICALLY PERFECT DESKS AND DESKTOP COMPUTERS? TODAY, THERE ARE AS MANY WAYS OF WORKING AS THERE ARE EMPLOYEES, AND DIFFERENT GENERATIONS HAVE DIFFERENT DEMANDS ON THEIR WORKING ENVIRONMENT. THE PERFECT WORKPLACE MUST THEREFORE STIMULATE BOTH CREATIVITY AND FLEXIBILITY – WITHOUT STINTING ON ERGONOMICS.
ONCE UPON A TIME, DESKS, sturdy task chairs and oval conference
Ahlin. It is, however, important, not to go all out for a trendy workplace
tables were the obvious way to furnish an office. These elements are
by scrapping all the desks in favour of cushion rooms and ball pits.
still part of most workplaces – but today many of us work just as well
For even if creative environments are highly regarded, four out of
on a sofa or bean bag as we do at a desk.
five office workers want to have access to ergonomic work furniture, according to a survey carried out by Kinnarps and United Minds. Four
”I do that myself more often than not, as I work at home a lot,
out of ten work standing up every week, and every other one seeks
and it works really well for me,” says Jane Ahlin, ergonomist from
help from an ergonomist.
Ergo@Work and chair of the Swedish Ergonomics & Human Factors Association. She continues: ”Many people can find a good working posture on a sofa, since you have lowered arms when you have a laptop on your knees. What can be a problem, though, is that if you have a long back you may get neck pain, because on a sofa it’s easy for your neck to bend downwards.”
”Desks are necessary, but on the other hand I think all desks should be height-adjustable. There’s no reason to buy anything else today.” JANE AHLIN
THE PERFECT OFFICE IS IN A STATE OF CHANGE
Nowadays, an important customer presentation can be done just as
”Desks are necessary, but on the other hand I think all desks should be height-adjustable. There’s no reason to buy anything else today,” says Ahlin. Views on the working environment differ between generations, with the oldest generation being most traditional and focused on ergonomics and peace and quiet. 76 per cent of office workers in the 51-69 age group consider it important to have their own office, while less than half in the 15-35 age group think this is
important, according to Kinnarps’ survey.
easily via Skype on the sofa as in the company’s conference room, and there is general agreement that a varied office environment works
But awareness is increasing here, too, Ahlin believes:
wonders for creativity. Some of the world’s biggest and fastest-growing
”I think there used to be a bigger difference. I have lectured in
companies, such as Google, Microsoft and Spotify, have also been
secondary schools and to young guys who worked with CAD. They
acclaimed for their crazy offices, where hammocks, TV games and
used to be immortal but now they’re more aware. Many of them have
ping-pong tables are equally important as task chairs.
had touches of muscle fatigue themselves or know other people who experience it, and so they become more attentive.
”The perfect office has different work stations for different needs. Everyone benefits from being able to change their posture,” says
JANE AHLIN Ergonomist at Ergo@Work, and chair of the Ergonomics & Human Factors Association.
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INTERVIEW ARAM SEDDIGH
Aram Seddigh presents his research on the link between
OFFICE TYPE, HEALTH
We have all experienced how the working environment affects our mood, well-being and the quality of the work we do. But what is fact and what is mythology? In his dissertation, Aram Seddigh investigates how office type, health and performance are interrelated – and the answers are not always what we might expect.
MORE AND MORE OF US spend our days in office environments, which also means that more and more of us have experience and views about how we feel and function in different types of office. Some of us think having our own room is best, others feel most comfortable in an open landscape, while a third group have adopted the flexible office. But it’s one thing to think and guess, and another to measure in which environments we actually do feel best and work best. This is exactly what Aram Seddigh did in his doctoral dissertation ’Office type, performance and well-being’, submitted to the Department of Psychology of Stockholm University. In the dissertation he investigates how office types affect employees’ health and performance, and whether such effects are in their turn influenced by an employee’s personality and the type of work task. ”The results show that the difference between how we feel and perform in different types of office is not the same as many people think, and in certain cases the difference is much smaller,” says Seddigh. THE MYTH THAT HAVING YOUR OWN ROOM IS BEST The dissertation is based on data from six organisations and 3,000 people working in cubicle offices, office landscapes and flexi-offices. This is a larger and broader investigation than those previously done in this area. ”I used questionnaire responses and cognitive tests, which enabled me both to inves tigate how the people perceive their working environment and to test how it really affects them. Working with objective facts, as I did, mean that my results differ somewhat from those that have emerged from previous research,” says Seddigh. So what are the results, then? When people themselves are asked to say how they feel, >>
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
INTERVIEW ARAM SEDDIGH
AND PERFORMANCE
PHOTO: KLARA LEO
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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INTERVIEW ARAM SEDDIGH
the ones who have their own room usually claim to have the best health, followed by those in flexi-offices, while those who work in office landscapes express the most problems. But if we look deeper into the material, it turns out to be not quite so simple. When we look at objective data, it is not so obvious that those who sit in cubicle offices always perform best. ”Many people believe that having their own room is always best for them, but when we measure the reality, the difference compared with other office types isn’t so great. Cognitive tests of memory even show that employees who sit in cubicle offices are most affected by distractions, while people in small or medium-sized office landscapes manage significantly better. Perhaps this because they have learned to concentrate despite being distracted, or because individual offices are not being used correctly.” INVESTIGATING GREATER FLEXIBILITY If we were hoping for an unambiguous answer, then, we have to accept that the reality is not always so simple. Even if it is possible to identify certain patterns, there is no single type of office which is always best. Different solutions bring different challenges, and Aram Seddigh’s advice is that workplaces should be designed in line with the characteristics of each individual organisation. ”Nowadays, office design is less to do with furnishing and more to do with a holistic perspective on the processes and working methods in an organisation. For a company like Kinnarps, this may mean investigating how their products are really used in workplaces, and continuing to work closely with their customers.” Aram Seddigh’s continued research is now focusing on investigating how flexible and activity-based offices affect us. He states that the large-scale historical trends have been moving for a long time in the direction of more flexible ways of living
ROOMS TO AN ACTIVITY-BASED OFFICE,
and working, and this development is only going to continue.
FOR EXAMPLE, MANAGEMENT MUST CREATE
”The freedom of choice that the activity-based office creates
A GOOD TRANSFORMATION PROCESS
can be positive for employees. It can give them a sense of control which, in turn, can lead to better well-being and more effective work. But increased freedom of choice also puts new demands on self-leadership in the organisation. In the transition from individual rooms to an activity-based office, for example, management must create a good transformation process where the employees are involved and can participate. This is a sure way of contributing to both health and performance.”
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IN THE TRANSITION FROM INDIVIDUAL
Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
WHERE THE EMPLOYEES ARE INVOLVED AND CAN PARTICIPATE. THIS IS A SURE WAY OF CONTRIBUTING TO BOTH HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE.
INTERVIEW ARAM SEDDIGH
FACTS In his dissertation ’Office type, performance and well-being: A study of how personality and work tasks interact with contemporary office environments and ways of working’ (2015), Aram Seddigh investigates how different types of office – cubicle offices, divided office rooms, small office landscapes, large office landscapes, medium-sized office landscapes and flexi-offices – affect employee health and performance. Aram Seddigh is active in the Stress Research Institute at Stockholm University and runs the company WeOffice, which offers change management services – you can read more at www.weoffice.se. He also blogs at www.kontorsforskning.se where you can also download his dissertation.
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NEXT OFFICE
™
Activity Based Working
Next OfficeTM - ABW gives plenty of scope for individually designed interiors with the focus on movement.
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
Today, work is not something you go to. Today, work is what you do. Working methods are changing along with technology, and traditional workplaces are on the way out, yielding place to new solutions. Kinnarps Next OfficeTM – Activity Based Working is a location-independent interior design concept which promotes mobility with ergonomically designed workplaces, customised for the specific task which is to be performed.
AN ORDINARY DAY AT WORK means many different work tasks for
WELL-BEING AS PROFIT
most office workers. Technology – mobiles, tablets, portable computers
The gains associated with the activity-based solution Next OfficeTM
and wireless networks – in contrast to earlier times, make it possible
are many. Reduced costs of premises, thanks to more efficient use of
today to perform work tasks in various environments, both inside and
space. A more sustainable office which can be customised to accom-
outside the office. Whereas we used to go to work, today we take our
modate changes in the workforce for many years to come. Greater
work with us wherever we go.
creativity through the creation of space for spontaneous meetings. And, not least, increased well-being among the employees, who gain
To meet these new demands, Kinnarps has developed Next OfficeTM –
the opportunity to move between a number of ergonomically correct
Activity Based Working, an activity-based concept for an ergonomic
environments, customised to suit the tasks to be performed.
workplace which promotes mobility. The individual desk is removed in favour of a number of different types of location-independent
The only thing that controls Next OfficeTM – ABW is need. And imagination.
workrooms, all under one roof. There may be small, quiet rooms next to large landscapes filled with flowing conversations. Meeting rooms of different sizes can be located next to a lounge for a more relaxed
”TODAY, IT IS SMARTER TO START BY LOOKING AT THE
atmosphere and to give scope for spontaneous meetings when the
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, THE ACTIVITIES THEY PERFORM
need arises. Personal work tools are kept in a locker, and employees choose a workplace during the day, depending on the work they are going to do. The Next OfficeTM philosophy is based on a holistic perspective which includes everything from furniture to sound, lighting and colour choice, and where every component is a decisive part of a successful whole.
AND WHERE THEY PERFORM THEM, WHEN PLANNING OFFICE AREAS. ON THE BASIS OF THIS WE CAN THEN, TOGETHER WITH THE COMPANY, DESIGN A FLEXIBLE OFFICE WHERE THE EMPLOYEES CAN SIT WHEREVER IS BEST FOR THEIR TASK.” HENRIK AXELL, KINNARPS
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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FUNCTION BEAUTY AND SUSTAINABILITY Architects often see ergonomics as a necessary evil rather than an inspiring, creative opportunity, according to the architect Giuseppe Boscherini when we phone him up in London. He wants architecture to be more in tune with people’s everyday lives and to bring the issue of ergonomics to the fore in the vision of architects and designers.
THE ROMAN ARCHITECT and engineer Vitruvius’ treatise
ARCHITECTURE THAT EMBRACES
’Ten books on architecture’ is often regarded as the oldest preserved
Giuseppe Boscherini is an architect, interior designer and industrial
work on architecture. In it, architecture is defined as the interaction
designer, and also works as a workplace strategist and teacher at,
between function, beauty and sustainability.
for instance, the KLC School of Design in London. He would like more architects to design buildings and interiors that have a clear link to how
The discussion on what the focal points should be is at least 2,000 years
people actually live their lives, move about and work. He quotes the
old, but is still of relevance. When the issue of ergonomics is added to
architecture theorist Charles Jencks, who writes of an architecture that
the equation, the question is turned on its head. Should architecture
embraces us without slapping us on the head.
succumb to ergonomics, should architecture be steered by ergonomics – or can the various elements interact, even draw strength from each
”Architecture and interior design should improve people’s everyday
other?
lives. Make us grow and feel stronger. Unfortunately the focus today is on iconic buildings and landmarks that do not take the people who use
”Definitely. For me there is no contradiction between ’good architecture’
them into consideration.”
and ’good ergonomics’. On the contrary, I would say they are closely
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linked. Both, for instance, are based on people and the insight that the
And here there is no room for ergonomics?
designed, physical environment should endeavour to find a balance
”No. Today many architects see ergonomics as something they have to
between function, beauty and sustainability. So basically, architecture
come to terms with when legislation or clients make it a requirement,
and ergonomics are about the same thing; it’s just a question of ’scale’,”
rather than as a source of creative inspiration or an opportunity to
says Boscherini.
explore new fields. However, the issue of ergonomics should never be
Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
just tacked on at the end, but should instead be a source of guidance
for example, based on how we actually act, interact and work.
in the overall architectonic vision of how buildings and interior designs
He offers Google’s main office in California as a good example.
should be used and shaped.” ”The core of this project is a vision of ultimate flexibility, based on the KEEP PEOPLE IN MIND
insight that we actually don’t know how we will be working in 10 or
Architecture and design should, just like ergonomics, contribute to
20 years’ time. They have therefore designed an architecture that works
better physical and mental health. The aim should be to design objects
like software and can be updated rather like an app. Lightweight, mobile
that are nice to look at and comfortable and fun to use, every day and
and modular structures instead of fixed and static concrete buildings.”
for years to come. As an example, Boscherini mentions his folding Brompton bicycle, which he has been using for 15 years and has never
INCLUDE THE SENSES
tired of.
In the same spirit, Giuseppe Boscherini wants to encourage his students to use and explore their senses when they develop a project, with the
”The secret is to always keep people, our lives and what we do in mind.
aim of developing a holistic perspective when they work.
One question to ask, for instance, is how a child would perceive what you design. Or an elderly person. Or someone with a disability. In this
”I usually describe design as a process that has to be open and receptive
way, both good design and ergonomic thinking are synonymous with an
to the senses. It is only through understanding our five senses that we
inclusive way of working.”
as architects and designers can create environments that are attentive to the needs of people. And such environments will also automatically
Giuseppe Boscherini also talks about ergonomic feedback as a means
be good from an ergonomic perspective.”
of understanding how people use an environment and behave in it over time, in order to be able to carry out improvements to a workplace,
Or, in other words – balance function, beauty and sustainability.
ABOUT GIUSEPPPE BOSCHERINI Giuseppe Boscherini is a qualified architect (Dip Arch UCL/RIBA), industrial (MDes RCA) and interior designer with 30 years’ experience of leading and inspiring design teams within internationally renowned practices such as Foster and Partners, Gensler, IBI, Woods Bagot and CBRE, on multidisciplinary projects for global clients. Most recently, he was Creative Director at CBRE Workplace Consulting group, facilitating client workshops, enhancing project content and leading research initiatives. He now runs his own London-based studio.
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THE QUIET REVOLUTION THE BORDER BETWEEN SOUND AND NOISE IS NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS. WHAT DISTURBS, STRESSES AND TIRES US VARIES FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER AND ALSO DEPENDS ON HOW WE FEEL ON A PARTICULAR DAY. SO IT’S ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT NOT TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT HOW WE PERCEIVE CONVERSATION, LAUGHTER AND MURMURING IN THE WORKPLACE. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT SOUND.
LISBETH FORSBERG, responsible for acoustics and environmental
”I think technological development, which means that we are working
labelling at Kinnarps, believes that ’sound ergonomics’ is a rather
more flexibly and in open landscapes, has pushed the acoustic environ-
neglected area. In our workplaces, but also in society at large. Even if a
ment up the agenda. At Kinnarps we have worked with colleagues in the
huge amount of effort has gone into the architecture and interior design
industry to develop joint standards for measuring sound absorption in
of a new building, it is not uncommon for the whole experience to be
our products.”
ruined by an unconsidered and annoying acoustic environment. Forsberg points out that there are laws regarding noise which is ”Sound is an extremely complicated area. For one thing, it involves
damaging for people’s hearing, but in the case of sound which is ”only”
advanced physics. For another, sound isn’t something we can touch or
annoying, the limits are fuzzier.
see, which means it’s easy to forget. So most people probably don’t think about the acoustic environment that surrounds them, but we know that it
”We know that sound greatly affects our ability to perform, that it can
nevertheless affects health, well-being and ability to perform.
cause stress, headaches and concentration problems, but also physical pain in the shoulders and neck. At the same time, sound is obviously in-
SOUND AFFECTS PERFORMANCE
evitable in our workplaces. In fact it can also be perceived as a positive
Kinnarps was a pioneer in sound ergonomics – measuring sound in
thing that our colleagues discuss, laugh or play music.
the workplace to be able to create better acoustic environments. The
So total silence isn’t always necessarily best. Not all sound is noise.
development took off during the 1990s, and in recent years awareness
And in fact there are some sounds that we want, and need, to hear as
of sound has increased considerably.
well as possible. >>
LISBETH FORSBERG In charge of acoustics and environmental labelling at Kinnarps
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
”Most people probably don’t think about the acoustic environment that surrounds them, but we know that it nevertheless affects health, well-being and ability to perform.”
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”What we perceive as annoying is really subjective. We all have different
just have a slightly raised sound level, such as printers, lifts, walkways,
sensitivities. It can also vary from day to day. If we’re tired, or stressed,
canteens and reception areas. Screens between workplaces dampen
or have a work task that needs a particularly high concentration level,
sound in an office landscape, without sacrificing the advantages of
a colleague’s laughter or phone conversation can annoy us more than
increased closeness and communication. Separate rooms for shorter or
usual,” says Forsberg.
longer meetings also contribute to a better acoustic environment.
SHUT NOISE OUT
”You can also affect some things with your behaviour. If you’re going
So, how can we create a good acoustic environment? Since sensitivity
to have a lengthy telephone conversation, you can move away a little.
to sound can vary between people, days and work tasks, a flexible
Remember, too, that we have a tendency to talk on the telephone with
environment with a number of different soundscapes is best.
a louder voice than necessary. A quiet conversation is obviously less annoying than a loud one, says Forsberg.
A good way to start is to enlist the help of an expert who will analyse the link between work processes and the environment, suggest how unnec-
A QUIET REVOLUTION
essary disturbances can be eliminated and what other sound absorbers
A lot can be done with the acoustic environment if we only notice it
might be needed. This includes both specially-designed products such
and become aware of how it affects us. Best of all, of course, is if the
as desk screens, screen walls and wall-rail systems of various kinds,
architect knows about sound and plans the acoustic environment at the
and looking at the whole environment to find a good balance by using
stage of designing the building.
natural absorbers such as curtains, carpets and furniture. ”I’ve come across quite a few environments where the acoustics were ”My advice is always to start with a basic furnishing that you can then
completely forgotten during construction, and it can be really difficult to
adjust when the premises have come into use. It’s really only then that
make and mend afterwards. That’s why it’s so important to raise aware-
you know what it sounds like. The advantage of screens, apart from the
ness of sound and how it affects us,” says Forsberg, adding:
fact that they dampen sound, is that they also make the office flexible and adaptable to new requirements,” says Forsberg. It is especially
”I can see a lot of positive signs that things are developing in the
important to screen off machines and areas that make a noise, hum or
right direction. There’s something of a quiet revolution under way.”
” M Y A D V I C E I S A L W A Y S T O S TA R T W I T H B A S I C F U R N I S H I N G T H AT Y O U C A N T H E N A D J U S T W H E N T H E P R E M I S E S H AV E C O M E I N TO U S E.”
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
A FEW WORDS ABOUT SOUND
HOW DOES ANNOYING SOUND AFFECT ME? It affects your health and your ability to perform. It can cause stress, headaches and concentration problems, but also physical pain in the shoulders and neck.
WHY DO SOUNDS ANNOY ME MORE ON CERTAIN DAYS? Sensitivity to sound is individual and can also vary from day to day depending, for example, on how tired or stressed we are. Work tasks that require high levels of concentration can also make you perceive sound as annoying.
WHAT CAN I DO MYSELF TO ACHIEVE A BETTER ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT? Talk more quietly on the telephone; you will be heard anyway. Move away if you are going to have a lengthy meeting. Notice and take account of how your colleagues perceive the acoustic environment. Turn towards the person you are talking to, so that they can hear you better.
I GET ANNOYED BY THE SOUND OF THE PRINTER AND THE LIFT. WHAT SHOULD I DO? Suggest that areas with high noise levels should be screened off. Everyone will appreciate it. Screens can also create separate spaces in an office landscape. HOW IS SOUND AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT MATERIALS? Soft, porous materials such as curtains, textile-足 covered furniture and carpets absorb sound. On the other hand, harder surfaces such as wooden floors reflect sound. So in a room with very hard surfaces, sound is more annoying and can have an echo effect.
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BY ACOUSTIC PLANNING, YOU CREATE A GOOD ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT IN THE OFFICE.
DIFFERENT WORK TASKS REQUIRE DIFFERENT LIGHTING. REMEMBER TO FIT GENERAL LIGHTING, WORK LIGHT AND ATMOSPHERIC LIGHTING.
TO VARY YOUR WORKING POSTURE, BY CREATING ENVIRONMENTS WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU MAKE ROOM FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF ACTIVITY-BASED WORK. 46
Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
HAVE A NUMBER OF SITTING OPTIONS FOR YOUR WORKPLACE.
The trend barometer is pointing vertically upwards for individually designed offices. This benefits, among other things, our creativity and efficiency, and increases our well-being at work. The scope for more individual workplaces is endless – the only limitations are needs and imagination. With an open mind and colourcoordinated interiors, constructed from the Kinnarp Group brands Kinnarps, Drabert, MartinStoll, Materia, Skandiform and NC Nordic Care offer a wide selection of ergonomic designer furniture that inspires change. AN ERGONOMIC TASK CHAIR HAS A NUMBER OF FUNCTIONS WHICH ARE CUSTOMISED TO YOUR BODY FOR OPTIMAL ERGONOMICS.
WITH A VARIABLE-HEIGHT TABLE, YOU CAN VARY YOUR WORKING POSTURE ACCORDING YOUR TASK AND MOOD.
Screen: Oktav, Kinnarps Standing screen: Prim, Kinnarps Sofa: Pio, Kinnarps Lying stool: Frisbee, Kinnarps High stool: Rialto, NC Nordic Care Peter Andersson Tables: Oberon, Kinnarps, Task chair: Capella, Kinnarps Stool: Fields, Kinnarps Angled screen: Oktav, Kinnarps Combine coffee table, Kinnarps Easy chair: Bone, Materia Steinar Hindenes, Lars Tornøe, Atle Tveit Stool: Boullée, Materia Anders Johnsson
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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Chair: Papa, Skandiform Jonas Lindvall Sofa: Avec, Materia Birgitta Lööf Stool: Fields, Kinnarps Coffee table: Fields, Kinnarps Sound absorber: Oktav, Kinnarps Sofa: Polar, MartinStoll Laptop table: Slitz, Skandiform Mattias Ljunggren Easy chair: Coat, Materia Fredrik Färg Chairs on wall: Chip, Kinnarps Stool: Boullée, Materia Anders Johnsson
TEXTILES ABSORB SOUND AND CONTRIBUTE TO A QUIETER ENVIRONMENT.
USE MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE WHOSE RANGE OF APPLICATION CAN BE CUSTOMISED ACCORDING TO NEED.
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
SOUND ABSORBERS GIVE YOU A MORE AGREEABLE WORKING CLIMATE.
USE THE WALLS FOR STORAGE, AND SAVE FLOOR SPACE.
LOCALISED LIGHTING IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR WORKPLACE.
A ROUND STOOL CONTRIBUTES TO AN ACTIVE WORKPLACE AND BETTER POSTURE.
COMFORTABLE SEATING FURNITURE CREATES RELAXATION.
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Chair on table: Neo Lite, Materia Fredrik Mattson Yellow easy chair: Cosa, MartinStoll Tables: Modulor, Skandiform Claesson Koivisto Rune Chair on table: Neo, Materia Fredrik Mattson Hanging chair: Jackie, NC Nordic Care Peter Andersson Stacked chairs: Chip, Kinnarps Chairs on castors: Deli, Skandiform Thomas Pedersen Task chair: Capella, Kinnarps
OUR BODIES ARE DIFFERENT. BY OFFERING DIFFERENT CHAIRS AROUND THE TABLE, YOU GIVE EVERYONE THE CHANCE TO SIT PROPERLY. LIGHTING IS FUNDAMENTAL FOR YOUR WELL-BEING AT WORK.
CASTORS GIVE FLEXIBILITY.
PADDED FURNITURE IS GOOD FOR COMFORT.
ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS CAN BE CUSTOMISED TO THE USER FOR OPTIMAL ERGONOMICS.
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WINDOWS AND NATURAL LIGHT ARE THE BEST POSSIBLE SOURCE OF LIGHT YOU CAN HAVE IN THE OFFICE.
DIFFERENT TABLE HEIGHTS ENABLE QUICK AND EASY CHANGES OF WORKING
WITH A DIRECTIONAL
POSTURE.
WORK LIGHT, THE LIGHT FOLLOWS YOU, INSTEAD OF VICE VERSA.
STACKABLE FURNITURE MAKES ROOM FOR MORE.
FURNITURE THAT CAN BE LIFTED OFF THE FLOOR GIVES THE CLEANER A BETTER DAY AT WORK.
Vaulting horse: Materia, Sandin & Bülow Round tables: Cone, Materia, Carl Öjerstam Stool: Platon Lite, Materia Lucas E Hinnerud Jackie chairs, NC Nordic Care Peter Andersson Padded chair: Primo, Skandiform Stefan Borselius Chair on stool: Oak, Skandiform Jonas Lindvall Stool: Plockepinn, NC Nordic Care Helena Svensson
Chair on table: Neo Lite, Materia Fredrik Mattson Chair with castors on table: Deli, Skandiform Thomas Pedersen Hanging chair: Oval, Skandiform Claesson Koivisto Rune Chair: Deli, Skandiform Thomas Pedersen Angled chair: Bone, Materia Steinar Hindenes, Lars Tornøe, Atle Tveit Tables: Modulor, Skandiform Claesson Koivisto Rune
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT. AND SOLUTIONS ARE PERSONAL.
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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SMALL STEPS TO MA JOR Ever since the start in 1942, ergonomics has been close to Kinnarps’ heart, and has permeated everything we do from user-friendly design to preciselytargeted holistic solutions. It was Jarl Andersson, one of our founders, who took up the cause of ergonomic thinking. Being the inventor he was, he was always looking for small details that made a big difference. He made sure that Kinnarps, as one of the early mass furniture production innovators, began to cooperate with ergonomists in the early 1950s. Here, we list some of the most important years in Kinnarps’ development of ergonomic solutions.
DURING THE 1950s, ergonomics was mostly about how to sit correctly on a chair, and the chair was also the item which ergonomic eyes focused on.
1975 The task chair 510 was
THE K 1538 WRITING CHAIR
launched – the first large
1989 The furniture range
ergonomic chair with individual
Decade, based on new ergonomic
customisation by means of
research, was launched, with
adjustable seat and back.
integrated cabling and lighting and a sit/stand table, among
was one of the task chairs which
other features.
saw the light of day in the 1950s at Kinnarps. 1987 The Vip Matic function, which followed the body’s pattern of movement, was launched.
1963, when the Ero chair with adjustable seat and back was launched, was the starting gun for a fast-flowing stream of innovative furniture design from Kinnarps. 54
Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
DEVELOPMENT
2016 Fields, with lots of combination options for flexible workplaces, was launched. Read more about Fields on pages 64-65.
2011 We offered an activitybased office design solution with Next Office-ABW.
1993 The Free Float function was presented in the 6000 chair – a unique mechanism where the body determines the movements of the chair.
2015 The revolutionary Free-motion chair Capella was launched.
1997 The compact workplace Zapp – an ergonomically designed workplace – was presented. The innovation drew a great deal of attention in the industry.
1991 MSG, the first motorised
In recent years, the development and the range of ergonomic solutions has exploded. Today,
sit/stand table, went into production –
with Kinnarps’ help, you can find sustainable alternatives for most working environments.
a predecessor to today’s height-
Both current and future work presents many challenges, but we know that design and
adjustable tables.
ergonomics increasingly go hand in hand. This makes it easier to choose ergonomic products which promote well-being at work. We also know that Jarl Andersson’s legacy and his search for functionality and user-friendliness live on in the Kinnarps of today and tomorrow.
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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ERGONOMICS AT KINNARPS
The chair’s underframe folds up, making it easier to carry out the delicate operations. Specially-made tools and customised tool placement mean that work flows without stress.
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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
ERGONOMICS AT KINNARPS
PRACTISING WHAT WE PREACH ERGONOMICS IS ABOUT THE WHOLE PERSON – AND THE WHOLE COMPANY. AT LEAST, THIS IS TRUE FOR KINNARPS. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE COMPANY DEVELOPS, PRODUCES AND SELLS INTERIOR DESIGNS TO CUSTOMERS, WE OURSELVES ARE A LARGE WORKPLACE. WITH THE SAME HIGH ERGONOMIC DEMANDS AS ANY OTHER, OR EVEN HIGHER.
”YES, I THINK WE PROBABLY DO HAVE HIGHER AMBITIONS
ends up at the right angle for assembly, instead of the employee
than most other companies when it comes to ergonomics – it would be
having to work in unnatural and gruelling body postures.
a bit odd if we didn’t,” says Production Director Anders Hermansson. ”For one thing, we know how important ergonomics is in enabling
”We also have height-adjustable flooring, so that the working height
people to feel good and be able to perform. For another, we already
is right no matter how tall you are, and employees can choose
have the necessary know-how in the company, so it is a little easier
whether to sit or stand at their work station.”
and more self-evident that we should have our own good ergonomic CONTINUING TO DEVELOP
solutions there.”
Anders Lundahl goes on talking about the line as we walk round and ERGONOMICS FROM THE START
look. He shows the adjustable flooring, and points out that the light
This high level of ambition does not only apply to our own office
neither shadows nor dazzles and that the tools are easily accessible
environments, of course, but permeates the whole process –
and customised for the work. It is clear that every little detail has
from production to delivery. Since so many Kinnarps products are
been thought through.
technically advanced, assembly is one of the great challenges. At the Kinnarps factory in Jönköping, a new assembly line for chair
”And you’ll also notice that I can talk at normal conversational volume,
underframes has just been put into service. We went there to talk
because the sound level is so low,” he says.
to ergonomist Anders Lundahl, who has worked with ergonomics at Kinnarps for a long time.
Safety is of course an obvious aspect, and is dealt with partly through the use of double commands requiring both the operator’s hands,
”Our systematic work with ergonomics permeates everything we do,
which prevents crushing. It is equally obvious that material supply
and the new line is a good example of this. Ergonomic thinking began
does not require any heavy manual lifting. Anders Lundahl has every
at the design stage, and then we had a test workplace where we did an
reason to be satisfied.
evaluation before we built the actual finished line,” says Lundahl when we come into the factory. One of the big challenges with this particular
”Yes, I’m satisfied in the sense that the production environment
assembly is that there are many delicate and precise operations that
has turned out really well, but there are other things that can be
have to be done inside the underframe and in various corners.
improved even further, both here and elsewhere in the organisation. We’re continuing to develop our ergonomic solutions and practise
The line therefore ensures that the chair underframe automatically
what we preach.”
Anders Lundahl is a trained ergonomist and physiotherapist who works at Kinnarps. As well as the ergonomic development work on the products, Anders checks all the workplaces and ensures that all employees receive training and advice on how to work ergonomically.
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ERGONOMICS IN PRACTICE 5 tips for better health at work
IT IS OFTEN SAID THAT THE BEST EXERCISE IS THE EXERCISE YOU ACTUALLY DO. The same goes for ergonomics. Research and theory are essential as a basis for developing both products and whole working environments, but you also need to actually do what is good for you in practice. Stand up for part of the working day. Move about even when you are sitting. Don’t economise on your monitor and keyboard quality. Think about light and sound, for your own sake and for others’. And, not least – remember that your body is made for movement, straining and variation.
STAND UP FOR YOUR HEALTH Most people sit far too much for their own good. Not only at work. In the car. On the bus. At the breakfast table and in front of the TV. It is estimated that, nowadays, an adult sits for 9 of the 16 hours of their waking day. Think about it – how many hours per day do you sit still, how many hours do you move about, and what can you do to become more active? A height-adjustable table is of course a good start for a more mobile and healthy life. But remember to use the table, and switch regularly between sitting and standing in order for it to be of any use. Standing up for ten minutes from time to time may not sound like very much, but it makes a big difference to the body. The best thing, of course, is standing up for your health before your neck, shoulders and back remind you how important it is.
TAKE AN ACTIVE BREAK
58
A short break from time to time is the first
reduces the risk of problems such as heart
step towards a healthier life. But taking a
and vascular disease. A number of new studies
break is not the same thing as resting
show the importance of more movement
passively. On the contrary. You should
during the working day, since exercise
preferably move a little when you take a
and other physical activity do not entirely
break. Slight muscle effort sets off lots of
compensate for the health risk posed by
positive processes in the body, and works
long-term daily sitting. Too much sitting still
real miracles for your health.
is a dangerous behaviour for weight, blood
A workplace where movement and variation
lipid values and diabetes.
are built in is therefore not only good for your
Take a break roughly once every half hour.
back, shoulders and neck, but also
Not to rest, but to be active.
Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N
HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH It is an ergonomic challenge of our times that we spend so many hours every day in front of a screen. And not only at work. On the way to or from work, when you are shopping, during the coffee break, at home in the kitchen and in bed – we sit with our noses buried in a screen. Literally. The problem is not the screen itself, but our tendency to bend over it and into it. Especially when you use mobile screens such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. You get a so-called ’screen neck’. The heavy strain we subject the neck to when we bend it in this way can cause pain in the neck and shoulder areas, but can also make us tired and tense and give us headaches. When there is no other remedy, we have to rely on ourselves. The best tip is to put the screen aside and do something different. If you really need it, you can make a big difference by lifting your gaze and holding your head a little higher. You will improve your body posture and relieve your neck. Small details that can make a big difference.
SIT, BY ALL MEANS, BUT DON’T SIT STILL Do you find it hard to sit still? Congratulations! Because the best way to sit is to move around. Forget the myth that there is one single correct sitting position which everyone should aim for. Or that you absolutely should not throw yourself down on a chair for a while and rest your legs. It is actually fine to sit for parts of the day, especially if the sitting involves variation, movement and activity. So it is good to have a task chair which follows your body rather than vice versa, which is easy to adjust to you and which allows you to sit in as many different ways as possible.
AND WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE
something you as an individual cannot influence
It is easy to understand that tables and chairs are
very much. A few tips are nevertheless useful for
important in creating good ergonomics. You can
making the acoustic and light environment better
see them and touch them. In the case of sound
for both you and your colleagues. As far as sound
and light it is a little more difficult. Because
is concerned, consideration is a good starting
although we know that they affect people, they are
point. A quiet conversation is obviously less
rather forgotten, invisible areas. In the case of
annoying than a loud one. When we talk on the
damaging noise there are laws and regulations,
telephone, we have a tendency to talk with a louder
but sound can be annoying without being actually
voice than is really necessary. Maybe you can
damaging. Sound is subjective, and we all perceive
move somewhere else for lengthy conversations
sound differently, depending on who we are, what
or meetings. And did you know that too little light
we are working with and how stressed we are. The
makes the body secrete melatonin, which makes
same goes for lighting. Just such a simple thing
you sleepy? So good lighting is a bright idea if you
as the fact that we have different needs for light
want to be certain of coping all day long. Make
at different ages. Both sound and light have a lot
sure you can adjust your lighting needs yourself,
to do with the planning of the workplace and are
with additional lamps if you need them.
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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”The secret is to always keep people, our lives and what we do in our thoughts. One question to ask, for instance, is how a child would perceive what you design. Or an elderly person.” GIUSEPPE BOSCHERINI
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KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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LET LIGHT DO THE JOB
THE WHOLE HUMAN BODY IS GOVERNED BY THE BIOLOGICAL CLOCK, WHICH IS IN TURN GOVERNED BY, EXACTLY – LIGHT. WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE SPEND ON AVERAGE 90% OF OUR WAKING HOURS INDOORS, IT IS NO WONDER THAT ILLUMINATION AND LIGHTING ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR US. NOT LEAST IN THE WORKPLACE.
LIGHT HAS AN ENORMOUS EFFECT on us human beings. It does not only enable us to see, but has a huge influence on our mood and our activity level. The human daily
is the proportion of the energy that goes into the lamp which is converted into light. (In a light bulb, in comparison, about 5% is converted into light, and the rest into heat.) They
rhythm is adapted to the sun. We are more alert and perform
also have very good colour reproduction and a low amount of
better during the day, whereas the body recuperates at night,
subliminal flicker. The disadvantage is that light quality can vary
when we sleep.
greatly between different LED lamps. It is therefore extremely important to choose carefully, and really make sure you get good quality.
LIGHT BULB, FLUORESCENT STRIP LIGHT OR LED? Since our physiological reaction to light depends on light intensity and
HUMAN CENTRIC LIGHTING – BIOLOGICALLY EFFECTIVE LIGHT
colour temperature, and since modern human beings spend so much
We are becoming increasingly aware that lighting also has non-visual
time indoors the characteristics and quality of artificial light in our
effects. Human Centric Lighting is so-called dynamic light, which
surroundings are of great importance.
means that you can vary both lighting strength and light colour during the day, to keep the user a little more alert. This can support the
An old-fashioned light bulb has the whole spectrum of light waves
human daily rhythm, increase concentration, prevent sleep problems
that daylight has, but is an extremely energy-inefficient source of
and improve our general well-being.
light. A fluorescent strip light has nothing like the same range of light waves, and therefore does not have the same effect, and does not
Human Centric Lighting solutions in schools, offices and hospitals can
satisfy our light needs in the same way.
give students, staff and patients increased energy and motivation. For
In addition, certain light sources are more sensitive to our alternat-
example, a high-intensity cold white light at the start of the working
ing current, which creates a so-called subliminal flicker*, which can
day can shift the sleep phase forwards and help to reset our biological
cause headaches and even create the sensation of stress.
clock. In countries with little daylight during the winter months, fit-
The new LED** lamps are a good alternative, as they are extremely
tings with adjustable light temperature can reduce winter depression
energy-efficient, with an energy coefficient of about 70-80% – this
and other season-related illnesses.
* A flicker which we do not perceive with the eye, about 100 times per second) ** Light Emitting Diodes
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TORBJÖRN LAIKE GIVES SOME GOOD ADVICE FOR CREATING A GOOD LIGHT ENVIRONMENT IN THE WORKPLACE. DAYLIGHT IS THE BEST SOURCE Windows are the absolute best light source you can have. There is no other light that can replace daylight completely, even if research has taken great steps towards better lighting. LOTS OF LIGHT, BUT NOT GLARING Best of all is an indirect light which is directed via the walls and ceiling. A glaring lamp can have a directly negative effect on the body, since we humans like to adapt ourselves to our environment. If we are dazzled by a light source, we react by fending off the incorrectly directed light, which in turn leads to an incorrect working posture which puts a sidelong strain on the body and is directly dangerous in the long run. MIX LIGHT SOURCES Fluorescent lighting can provide a good general light, but fluorescent lights alone tend to create a gloomy impression. The new type of diode light has a narrower beam, which increases the risk of dazzling, but can on the other hand be used to ’sculpture’ with, creating rooms with shadow effects and illuminated points. CORRECTLY ILLUMINATED Good light fittings should have reflectors to counteract dazzling. So as not to generate glare and reflections on screens, they should be hung from the ceiling to provide indirect light, just behind the actual workplace. SUPPLEMENT WITH INDIVIDUAL LIGHT People have different lighting needs. Research shows that it is important for people to be able to supplement so that we get the amount of light we think we need. A simple desk lamp may be the solution. TORBJÖRN LAIKE is senior lecturer and adjunct professor in environmental psychology and PhD in psychology at Lund University. He researches how people are affected by light
AGE AFFECTS US
in indoor environments, and how artificial light can affect us. In particular, his research
Children and young people can be affected
has focused on the non-visual effects of light and colour, i.e. how these environmental
negatively by the shortsightedness that arises
characteristics influence our well-being and how we feel. Our well-being is important
as a result of poor light. So light is even more
both for our behaviour and for our performance. Torbjörn is also head of CEEBEL,
important for them. At the age of 40+, the need
a national education centre for energy-efficient lighting, whose purpose is to coordinate,
for light becomes greater and greater, and a
disseminate and initiate research into light and lighting in Sweden.
little more light can make it possible to avoid the need for reading glasses, for example.
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
63
FIELDS The flexible, modular Fields range of furniture is the latest of
From the private to the social, where both individuals and groups
Kinnarps’ product launches and one of the building blocks of the
can find the space they need. So the concept consists of a large
Next Office™ concept. Fields creates opportunities for individual
number of modules and functions where all the parts can be combined
customisation of a workplace to suit everybody’s different
to tailor furnishing and interior design to suit the customer’s needs
characteristics and needs. We had a few words with Olle Gyllang,
and wishes.
the architect behind the design. My idea was to find an expression where all these combination HOW WAS THE IDEA OF FIELDS BORN?
options are possible and at the same time work in terms of form.
”The Fields concept is based on precise analyses and strategies
A balance between the soft, organic seating elements and the more
carried out by Kinnarps. So when I was brought into the project
angular screens.
they already knew what they wanted, and my task – together with the team at Kinnarps – was to find a solution to a need that had
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO FURNISH WITH FIELDS?
already been identified.”
”As I see it, we have created the building blocks and opportunities for the architect, on the basis of space, need and context, to design a good func-
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA BEHIND THE DESIGN?
tional environment with a lot of variation in both expression and use.”
”A large part of the work of developing Fields was to create good conditions for different work needs and activity types. From getting
WHAT ARE YOU MOST SATISFIED WITH?
away on your own so that you can work and concentrate with no
”The whole and the details. I think Fields represents the new
distractions, or a quiet break, to meetings in small groups.
Kinnarps well.”
�The design was balanced on the basis that the architect should be able to combine the various elements to create several types of activity areas while maintaining a unified expression.�
Olle Gyllang is a design strategist and partner at Propeller Design, Kinnarps’ partner behind the new modular furniture series Fields.
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Everything is connected. FOR US AT KINNARPS, it is obvious that we should take a holistic view of ergonomics, from the overall outlines to the small details, How work is planned and organised. How the working environment is designed. And how well work tools function and are customised to the users. Our products and our services are the tools we have for creating working environments which contribute to the health and performance of both individuals and organisations. Intensive development work, tests, technical innovations and innovative design – all these are necessary to enable us to live up to our high ambitions. The word ergonomics comes from the Greek ’ergon’, which means ’work’, and ’nomos’, which means ’law’. This suggests that there should be objective and eternal rules for what good ergonomics is, but I prefer to see ergonomics as something subjective and subject to change. While it is true that human bodies do not change over time, our working lives are constantly changing, and perhaps faster today than ever. At Kinnarps, we follow the development closely, so that we always have the furniture, the knowledge and the solutions which are needed in order for people to feel well in body and soul. If we succeed in this, we know that both individuals and organisations also perform better. In this way, good ergonomics is also good economics. Everything is connected.
Elisabeth Slunge Brand Range Design Director, Kinnarps AB
KINNARPS ERGONOMY
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KINNARPS M ARKET ING & COM M UNICAT IONS / FIREWATER / 8603105501/1610
YOUR BODY. OUR CONCERN.
www.kinnarps.com #betteratwork