Arab News Japan

DUBAI: Herman Miller and Japanese product and furniture designer FUKASAWA Naoto present the Asari chair; a demonstration of problem solving through modern design. It is now available for purchase online or through Herman Miller& MillerKnoll dealers.

Headquartered in the United States, Herman Miller has been a tycoon in office furniture, equipment, and home furnishings since 1905; their innovations range from ergonomic furniture to manufacturing iconic state of the art pieces.

FUKASAWA is a recognized Japanese designer, author, and educator known for his product and furniture design as well as collaborating with Japanese retail company Muji and many other including Herman Miller.

The Asari chair is a new creation that provides advanced ergonomic features as well as a comfortable and beautiful design.

The name Asari comes from the Japanese word clam, and this resembles the shape of the chair’s back, which can be middle or high-mid back height depending on the customer’s preference.

“My goal was to inspire joy and create a new form, ultimately becoming the next upholstered icon,” says Fukasawa. “A core part of my design ethos is to simplify the way we live, imbuing each creation with an attraction that makes people feel dear to it, a timelessness and longevity that enhances a human process.”

The Asari chair comes in over 180 colour combinations with a self-adjusting tilt that provides natural movement to fix and accommodate the natural curvature of the spine; it is also fixed with seat pads that minimizes pressure points.

Herman Miller also collaborated with leading interior textile creators, such as, Maharam.

Maharam’s textiles and leather is sourced from a boutique tannery from northern Italy and that preserves the brand’s honed techniques and it is one of the oldest leather producers in the world.

The purpose of the collaboration was to introduce two new textiles and leather to the office seating portfolio, which have been curated to suit the character of the chair.

With the world gradually shifting back to normal after the major work structure changes after the COVID-19 pandemic requiring employees to work online, a smooth transition back to the offices must be ensured.

The Asari chair ensures a more residential environment with its ergonomic and refined aesthetics features, providing the employees a home-like work environment.

“The evolution of work means the needs for spaces both at home and the office have transformed,” says Ben Watson, President, Herman Miller. “Asari, created with visionary designer Naoto Fukasawa, delivers what today’s workers need through intuitive adjustment, new leather and fabric offerings, clean aesthetic, and ergonomic performance.”