There are more chairs in the world than people, and still designers want to design more and newer chairs. For designers chairs can be the ultimate challenge; a chair has to be desirable. It has to look good whilst someone is sat in it and also when no one sits in it. It has to compliment the room that it’s in, drawing your attention to it but not standing out too much. It has to be comfortable and also serve a purpose; is it for work, relaxing, or maybe a particular task?

What is “innovation.” Name some innovators? What
are their characteristics?

The history of the chair goes back two thousand
years. Although its style and design have changed, its core function has remained the same.
In its many different shapes and forms, a chair is an object that “seats” us. Some of the earliest
examples of chairs, across cultures, are ceremonial thrones designed for royalty. In these
cases, they are often one-of-a-kind objects, custom made for one specific person. Technological innovation starting in the late nineteenth century allowed chair designers to break
from tradition and incorporate new materials and production methods. Now, most of the
chairs we use on a regular basis are designed and mass produced for consumers of all kinds
to purchase. In the course of our daily lives, we use a variety of chairs—on buses and trains,
and at school, work, and home. Development in technology and materials continues to
shape the ways chairs are designed and produced. And, as with all design, inspiration plays
a vital role in the process.