We’re excited to announce the five randomly chosen winners of the Dream Chair Giveaway! Congratulations to Paul Canady, Hannah Calvert, Stephanie Hodson, Sasha Rubert, and Jill Slupe. We will follow up with the winners via email.
Thank you to everyone who used our Chair Designer and sent us their creative entries. So many good ones! Check out the entries from our winners below. We’re also sharing some additional entries that were too unique not to share.
We also noticed a few fan favorites that kept reoccurring in the entries:
Lilly collection – Specifically the Lilly lounge with wood legs and rocker
9to5 Seating is launching its latest collaboration with Momentum Textiles, Swift 2.0. This new collaboration is an update to the Momentum Swift card and features ten woven and coated textiles in a variety of colors, textures and grades from B-D. The combination of new and top-selling options offers a wide selection for enterprises seeking environmentally friendly, durable and stylish fabrics.
Swift 2.0 includes the most popular patterns—Canter, Beeline and Origin—while introducing six new woven and coated patterns. The new textiles include Tribeca, a phthalate-free clean vinyl that is proposition 65-compliant, with a heavy-duty performance of 100,000 double rubs that can be easily cleaned with an extensive list of healthcare cleaners.
The other new patterns—Deka, Mello, Guru and Feltro—focus on comfort, with a variety of textures and colors that offer softness and durability, without losing sight of environmental and performance features like PFAS-free soil repellant finish and excellent water repellency. They are also easy to clean with soap and water, and all patterns are GREENGUARD certified.
The Swift 2.0 card is now available. Start specifying with Chair Designer.
Thank you to everyone who visited our showroom at theMART during NeoCon. It’s always a pleasure catching up with familiar faces and meeting new ones. We partied, we learned, we sat and we conquered.
This year, we brought back our Monday night Sips+Seating party with a new signature cocktail – the Bellini Bellini – in honor of our special guest Claudio Bellini, who designed our Cavo and Tori chairs.
Then Tuesday morning, we added a new event we hope to continue. A special designer meet and greet event with Claudio Bellini where we got to hear about his design inspiration behind Cavo and Tori and his general design philosophy.
This year, Tori received the HiP Honoree Award by INTERIOR DESIGN magazine. We’re honored to receive this recognition for our highly anticipated task chair launching in the Fall.
9to5 Seating announces Tori—an innovative new task series – has been recognized as a 2023 HiP Honoree Award in the Workplace Task Seating category by Interior Design’s HiP awards.
Tori emphasizes performance and comfort as well as influence impact—allowing enterprises to express their point of view through design. Designed by Claudio Bellini whose intent was to bring together the harmony of beauty and efficiency. Tori boasts a warm, versatile style with soft curves, and an elevated, intentional aesthetic. Tori is built for tasking in private offices, workstations, meeting rooms, conference rooms and work-from-home workspaces.
Interior Design is a global design authority with a tradition of identifying and highlighting trends in creative innovation. A leading industry voice, it is widely read by architectural and facility management professionals alike.
“9to5 Seating is honored to receive this award for Tori, a task chair specifically designed to combine design and utility and for our industry peers to recognize this achievement is exciting,” says Mark Mannon, VP of Product Development and Marketing.
In keeping with 9to5 Seating’s commitment to sustainability, Tori is made with over 60% recycled materials and is LEVEL 2 and GREENGUARD GOLD certified.
Check in with 9to5 Seating Sales Representative for a product demonstration and go to 9to5seating.com for more information. Tori will be available Fall 2023.
9to5 Seating is committed to sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices. This global perspective informs every aspect of its corporate culture, from warehousing to manufacturing to its office facilities to its community.
Aiming to boldly change how furniture designers and manufacturers operate, 9to5 Seating has prioritized environmental responsibility. The manufacturer has earned LEVEL 3 with HÅG SoFi and Ellie, joining HÅG Capisco and HÅG Capisco Puls with the same distinction. LEVEL 3 is the highest product ranking, similar to a platinum ranking in the LEED rating system. Currently, all other 9to5 Seating products have LEVEL 2 certification. To secure LEVEL certification, 9to5 Seating demonstrated that its manufacturing facility and company create “environmentally preferable and socially responsible” furniture that contributes to sustainable building ratings.
9to5 Seating worked with Foresight Management to achieve LEVEL 3 for HÅG SoFi and Ellie. Founded in 2007, Foresight has a proud history of responding to clients’ sustainability needs with innovative service offerings.
9to5 Seating is steadfast in its commitment to its communities and the planet. It works smart, selecting materials carefully so that its products don’t just support the fight against climate change, but become part of the solution.
9to5 Seating announces the upcoming launch of Tori—an innovative new task series emphasizes performance and comfort as well as influence impact—allowing enterprises to express their point of view through design. Imagined by designer Claudio Bellini whose design expresses the harmony of beauty and efficiency, Tori boasts a warm, versatile style with soft curves, and an elevated, intentional aesthetic. Tori is built for tasking in private offices, workstations, meeting rooms, conference rooms and work-from-home workspaces.
The latest in 9to5 Seating’s creative collaborations, Tori marks the second project with award-winning Italian designer Claudio Bellini. After the success of Bellini-designed Cavo, 9to5 Seating expanded the partnership. A multi-disciplinary architect and designer, Bellini “seeks the harmony of beauty and efficiency” and believes that today’s professional environments demand that harmony. Tori is his latest work that engages users not just with comfort but with a unique design and aesthetic.
Tori includes ergonomic features including multiple synchro mechanisms, height-only or 4D arm adjustments and a seat slider as well as accessibility options to support a wide range of users. Tori’s signature envelope back design not only makes Tori notable from the back, it creates a natural curve that delivers lumbar support with aesthetics—truly purposeful design. Tori is available in high back or mid back, mesh or upholstered in a variety of frame and mesh colors. Created to outfit an entire workspace, Tori can also be a standalone signature piece.
“9to5 Seating is excited to work with the Bellini team again,” says Mark Mannon, VP of Product Development and Marketing. “Tori is an amazing new task chair to add to our portfolio.”
In keeping with 9to5 Seating’s commitment to sustainability, Tori is made with over 60% recycled materials and is LEVEL 2 and GREENGUARD GOLD certified.
Check in with 9to5 Seating Sales Representative for a product demonstration when Tori launches in Fall 2023.
Looking for a comfortable and stylish seating solution for your lounge space? Look no further than 9to5 Seating’s lounge landing page at www.9to5seating.com/lounge.
Our lounge landing page features our Ellie, Lilly, and Jax lounge series, all offering exceptional comfort, durability, and design. Whether you’re looking for a classic, streamlined look or a more modern and edgy feel, our lounge series has something for everyone.
The Ellie lounge series is the perfect blend of elegance and comfort. With its clean lines and inviting curves, Ellie offers a sophisticated and inviting seating option for any lounge space. Its contoured seat and back provide ergonomic support, while its plush cushioning ensures ultimate comfort.
The Lilly lounge series is a great option for a more modern look. Its sleek and angular design will make a statement in any lounge space. Lilly’s unique backrest provides a stylish and comfortable seating experience, while its sturdy construction ensures lasting durability.
Finally, the Jax lounge series offers a versatile and customizable seating solution. With a range of upholstery options and models, Jax can be tailored to suit any design scheme. Its deep seat and plush cushioning make it a comfortable option for casual and formal lounge spaces.
So if you’re looking for design-forward and comfortable lounge seating, look no further than 9to5 Seating’s lounge landing page. With our Ellie, Lilly, and Jax lounge series, you will surely find the perfect seating solution for your space. Visit www.9to5seating.com/lounge today to browse our selection!
Education is an ever-evolving space, as it should be. How we teach and learn has evolved from simple storytelling and hieroglyphics to slate and chalk, digital tablets, and virtual learning. As we all know, the change in learning environments for students, educators and administrators have accelerated and amplified trends in education that were already in motion. Online and blended learning has revealed inequities and how many physical learning environments can’t meet the pedagogical needs and technology demands. Additionally, well-being has suffered, and students and teachers have struggled, unable to teach or learn effectively.
Research has found both students and instructors want more control over their learning environments. People want options so they can choose where to learn or work, and they want the ability to adapt spaces based on what they’re doing. A recent study reports a 92% increase in students who say they often or always move furniture to support their learning. Instructors report a 47% increase when asked if they agree or strongly agree that they want to be able to move furniture into new layouts. Access to mobile furniture, seating options, and postures promotes a greater sense of student agency.
Here are five key benefits of proper seating in any education environment:
Comfort: Comfortable seating can help reduce physical discomfort and fatigue during long periods of sitting, which is especially important for students who spend many hours in a lecture hall or study room. The right seating solution can help them stay focused and engaged during class.
Posture: Proper posture helps to prevent back, neck, and shoulder pain and also helps to maintain good spinal alignment, which is essential for good health. Good posture also helps improve breathing and circulation, enhancing overall well-being.
Productivity: Proper seating can help to improve concentration and focus, which is essential for success in higher education. When students are comfortable, they are more likely to be productive and able to retain information better.
Learning Environment: Proper seating can create a more positive and inviting learning environment, contributing to a more positive and supportive classroom culture.
Accessibility: Proper seating can also be important in making the classroom more accessible for students with disabilities. It is essential to ensure that seating is adjustable and can accommodate the needs of all students.
To create better teaching and learning experiences that provide students and educators with what they want and expect, institutions must pay attention to several macro shifts in how they think about space. Here are two key macro shifts:
Design for Effectiveness
During the pandemic, both students and educators faced challenges. The quality of learning and instruction declined. To move forward, students and educators must have access to multi-faceted learning environments that cater to individual and group needs and provide various learning methods. For instance, libraries could be reconfigured to accommodate group work and individual study. Schools must also create spaces that facilitate more effective hybrid and blended learning experiences.
Pictured: Lilly series, Cydia
Design for Flexibility
Traditionally, buildings were constructed with a focus on durability, featuring rigid architecture, power, and furniture arrangements. In the future, educational facilities will feature more flexible spaces that can quickly adapt to various modes of learning. Schools must embrace versatile spaces that can accommodate a wide range of activities. Furniture will be designed to be easily relocated, allowing the spaces to expand or shrink as necessary.
Below is a brief guide on several 9to5 Seating chairs and their ideal applications in various environments throughout school classrooms, libraries, admin areas, common areas, and other open spaces.
Pictured: Dash
Vox and Dash – Great for classrooms, cafés, cafeterias and meeting room spaces:
Full collections with multiple models to fill multiple spaces- classrooms, Cafés, cafeteria and meeting rooms, lab spaces
Very mobile and easy to move around
Available with glides or casters
Flexback movement to offer comfort while sitting for longer periods
Durable frames and plastic shells that hold up in high-traffic areas
Variety of plastic colors to choose
Pictured: Lilly side with rocker base
Lilly and Jax – Perfect for lounge collections-common areas, libraries, administrative offices:
Jax and Lilly offer different aesthetic designs suited for a variety of interior designs
Very mobile and easy to move around
Variety of models to fit in different spaces
Support focus or collaborative student work
Ellie – Well-suited for common areas, libraries, administrative offices:
Very mobile and easy to move around
Support focus or collaborative student work
Variety of bases that support multiple areas-show via images (individual images of different bases)
Effective education is a must for prosperous and civil societies. The next generation is counting on us to train and teach them, and we’re counting on them to lead us into the future. All of this is made easier with high-quality, thoughtfully specified lounge, task and multipurpose chairs from 9to5 Seating. For more inspiration on education seating solutions, check out the 9to5 Seating Education brochure.
I am writing this letter today with mixed emotions as I announce my decision to step down as President and CEO of 9to5 Seating, a company that has been a significant part of my life for over two decades. My last day with the company will be on March 31st. After much consideration, I have decided that it is time for me to pass the baton and spend more time with my family. I am not going far, however. I will continue to be involved with 9to5 Seating as a member of the supervisory board and working with Flokk to ensure 9to5 Seating’s continued growth.
As I reflect on my time with 9to5 Seating, I am filled with an immense sense of pride and gratitude for what we have achieved together. When my parents and I started this company all those years ago, we had a simple dream: to create a business that would not only provide quality and innovative office seating at competitive price points but would also be a place where team members would feel valued, respected, and appreciated. I am happy to say that we have accomplished that and so much more.
Over the years, we have faced challenges and opportunities, but we always tackled them together as a team. I am humbled by the commitment, hard work, and dedication of each and every one of you. You have been instrumental in making 9to5 Seating the success that it is today, and for that, I am forever grateful.
As I step down from my role, I want to express my sincere appreciation to each of you for your contribution to the company. I am confident that the company will continue to thrive under the new leadership of Frederik Fogstad and our existing leadership team, along with the support of Flokk. I have no doubt that the team will continue to set new records and achieve new heights!
Lastly, I want to thank my parents, Darius and Susan Mir, for having the vision, courage, and determination to plant the seed from which this company sprouted. Without their support and guidance, I would not be where I am today. I have had many great mentors throughout my career. I would be remiss if I did not also thank Mike Heazlitt for teaching a young engineer about sales.
It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team, and I will always cherish the memories and experiences we have shared. Thank you for being part of this amazing journey, and I wish you all the very best for the future.
9to5 Seating has announced that CEO and President Dara Mir will be stepping down from his position. Frederik Fogstad, Flokk Senior Vice President, International, will take over as the new CEO, effective April 1, 2023. Mir has decided to focus on his family and new challenges outside of 9to5 Seating.
The transition comes after Mir’s successful tenure, during which he founded and transformed 9to5 Seating into a major player in the office seating industry. Mir will remain involved with 9to5 Seating as part of the supervisory board.
Fogstad brings a wealth of experience to his new position. He has also held senior management positions at some of the world’s most respected furniture companies.
Prior to joining 9to5 Seating, Fogstad held positions in Varier Furniture, Intersport, Kellogg’s, and Coca-Cola.
“As I reflect on my time with 9to5 Seating, I am filled with an immense sense of pride and gratitude for what we have achieved together as a company. I want to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to the growth of 9to5 Seating,” said Mir. “It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team, and I will always cherish the memories and experiences we have shared.”
“I am honored to have been chosen to lead 9to5 Seating,” said Fogstad. “I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and am confident that we can continue to build on the company’s success.”
Under Mir’s leadership, 9to5 Seating grew into one of the most respected names in the office seating industry. With a reputation for quality, innovation, and design excellence, the company has won numerous awards and accolades. Flokk acquired 9to5 Seating from the Mir family in 2019, while Dara Mir stayed on as CEO and President supporting the transition of ownership and continued success of 9to5 Seating.
9to5 Seating is poised and committed to delivering the highest quality office seating products to its customers and to maintaining its position as a leader in the industry.