BODY TALK - English

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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CON TENT

6–7

OUR PHILOSOPHY OF HOLISTIC ERGONOMICS

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PEOPLE IN FOCUS

18–21

RESEARCHING THE ERGONOMICS OF THE FUTURE

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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.

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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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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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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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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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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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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.”

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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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”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.

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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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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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Y O U R B O D Y. O U R C O N C E R N

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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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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

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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

40

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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”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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43

”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.

KINNARPS ERGONOMY

45

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

47

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

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PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT. AND SOLUTIONS ARE PERSONAL.

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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.

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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.

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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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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

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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.

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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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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.

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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

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KINNARPS M ARKET ING & COM M UNICAT IONS / FIREWATER / 8603105501/1610

YOUR BODY. OUR CONCERN.

www.kinnarps.com #betteratwork