Some challenges along the way
As I became aware of the ergonomic and cognitive advantages of active seating I thought about developing a new lightweight more commercial version of the stool for children and adults alike. I invested in tooling and materials for a run of 50 pieces and conducted trials over a period of six months in ten primary schools. The stools received praise from children, teachers and parents and that was enough to convince me that not only was it a genuinely beneficial product but importantly there could be a market for it.
Development of the design
The journey from 'Odyssey' to 'Hokki' has seen changes in both materials and shape but the fundamental principle remains the same: a stool that rocks in all directions, promoting better posture and providing health benefits - and it's fun to sit on!
The first step forward from the solid cedar stools was the design of a hollow version made from plywood tube with a removable lid for storage. The next major development was to focus on making this a product for children, which would be suitable for mass production. This version was designed to be suitable for rotational moulding in polyethylene plastic with a non-slip rubber base. The school trials provided the impetus for the final version which was launched in March 2010 by VS in Germany and America.
See the links on the Hokki images for more information.
