3 Things Your Chair Can Teach You About Design

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman showed us the importance of designing for the user, but how often do we slow down and consider the lessons we can pull from the simplest of objects? A chair is something that is commonly taken for granted. You sit on your office chair and go about your day. The chair blends into the background unconsidered. But if you’ve ever had a long flight sitting on a typically terrible airplane seat, the tangible aspects of the interaction become much more apparent. Why is there no lumbar support? Why the heck is the entire back curved forcing you to slouch? Who thought sharing arm rests was a grand idea?

Perhaps an interesting lesson from the best designed chairs is that they go unnoticed. They perform their task seamlessly to the point you rarely consider the fact that you’re actively interacting with them. They conform to your needs allowing you to go about your day. That’s an aspirational accomplishment for many forms of design.

Allow the user to get things done without making them think about the tool they’re using to do them.

So take a seat and let’s break down some of the key characteristics that make good chairs so special.

They’re Comfortable

If you’re going to sit on a chair for several hours a day, you want the experience to be comfortable. Some chairs are like sitting on a cloud. Some are masterpieces of ergonomic design. What’s important is they’re something that you’re happy to spend time using.

The same lessons should be applied to the products you design. They should be comfortable. People should want to spend time with them. If the experience is unpleasant, the user will likely find an alternative they’re more comfortable with. Create things that are delightful to interact with and people will reward you with their time.

They’re Familiar

There are many objects we interact with on a daily basis that can lead to confusion. Even a simple push-pull door. Do you push it? Do you pull it? Sometimes you have to take the 50–50 guess to find out. That can lead to frustration or embarrassment. Let’s face it, you don’t want to be the person who walked into a glass door expecting it to move when you pushed it.

A chair doesn’t cause that issue. You see a place to sit and you sit down. Simple. Some may have a myriad of customizable options that you can’t understand at first, but at least the initial need for a place to sit is always satisfied.

When considering your designs ask yourself, is this familiar? Could someone use this intuitively without the need for complex help documents or instructions? If not, consider how you can make it more familiar. It’s great to offer deep customization and advanced features for those who need it, but be considerate of those who just want a place to sit, so to speak.

The Best Ones Conform to You

Some chairs do something more than simply allowing you to sit on them. They can be raised or lowered to match your height. They have adjustable backs and lumbar support to keep your spine happy. The armrests can be moved to conform to your body. They might even have wheels allowing them to double as hallway transportation.

A stern wooden dining room chair will serve its purpose of giving you a place to sit, but that also isn’t something that you’d want to spend an entire day on. The difference between an object that is strictly utilitarian, and one you love, can often hinge on how it adapts to you.

Keep this in mind when approaching your work. What can you do to make your work feel like it was designed for the user? How can you best serve the needs of a large and diverse group of people who may interact with the design? Did you take the time to ensure that it’s every bit as usable to someone who is color blind as it is to someone who is not? There are few things that build trust with a product faster than when people can instantly feel at home using it.

In Reflection

Take a moment to consider the objects that you truly love interacting with every day. Perhaps it’s your coffee pot as soon as you push the start button. The satisfying sound of incoming caffeine. Maybe it’s the feeling when you start your car and your favorite song automatically starts playing.

Every good interaction can contribute to an even better day, and it’s on us to strive to give people those interactions. A satisfying animation when someone completes a task, or a joyful illustration when someone hits a landing page. Don’t take these for granted, as the smallest pieces can sometimes make the biggest impacts.

We’re always looking for amazing people to join the Creative Market team. We value our culture as much as we value our mission, so if helping creators turn passion into opportunity sounds like something you’d love to do with a group of folks who feel the same way, then check out our job openings and apply today!