Update:
Since we've been hung up on ergonomics…
7/26/2021
… Let’s talk about sit & stand desks! With a similarly long and fascinating history as ergonomic chairs, sit and stand desks have been around since Davinci! Exploring the cyclical nature of history is a significant way of understanding humans, human nature, and human needs.
People first design means putting the needs of the people first, that means frictionless, intuitive design that feels welcoming and easy to interact with. The electric, or crank rising desks of the modern age have a much older family member – the 6 legged drafting table, however, to see the true cultural evolution of the standing desk, we need to look back to 1626.
Cambridge college centered intellectual thought around the standing desk. It wasn’t long before Napoléon Bonaparte took up the standing desk and found it conducive to quick thinking and strategizing for battle. Popularized more recently by Thomas Jefferson, the six legged drafting table had a ratchet to adjust the angle of the working surface. There is where one of the greatest innovators of his time would create his beautiful architectural designs.
Great authors, such as Charles Dickens and Ernest Hemingway were both known for their crowded, eclectic offices, as well as for their standing desks. By the 1850s standing desks were beginning to be recognized for their utility in business, and for their health benefits. Standing while writing or working was thought to lead to quick thinking and better overall health.
At the turn of the century, social elites were known to use the standing desk, including Winston Churchill. The growing popularity of standing desks was fostered by the Sear and Roebuck catalog, which sold secretary desk attachments that raised the working surface.
No longer thought of as just for the wealthy or eccentric, standing desks have come into the modern age. Many companies have added a sit & stand desk to their office spaces as part of their wellness programs. Ever popular at Google, standing desks of the 21st century are agile and functionally. Suitable for all heights, due to the raising and lowering mechanism, the sit & stand desk is a vital part of any truly ergonomic workstation. Start a conversation with us today to see what standing desks can bring to your office.