What do chairs say about culture, personality and psychology?

What does Furniture have to do with psychology? You might notice that you and your therapist both have to sit somewhere in therapy. We have internalized the visual language for this. We know, even in a picture of people that we don’t know, that the therapist sits on a chair and the patient sits on the couch. We upload pictures of our therapy offices for people to see in therapy directories because the spaces we design say something about us.

I have written extensively about how the space we inhabit affects the ways that we feel. In his video essay on film Tony Zhou points out that chairs are one of the fastest ways to communicate character and theme visually in film. I am fascinated with the intersection of design and psychology. Design is a powerful indicator of not only personality but also of how a society sees itself and the future. One of the reasons that many architects become furniture designers is that both jobs require that someone have a vision of the future and a hypothesis about the way style, economy, and society are headed. Buildings and furniture are not sets for plays. We expect them to last, often longer than us. This means that someone must look into the future and make a guess about what styles and materials will last.

Some of the largest fights in architecture come from competing visions of the world and what it could be. One of the biggest divides between the schools of architecture and design has been the classicists and the modernists. The classicists prefer traditional structures and styles. Classicists believe that these methods evolved over time for a reason. Classicism is an expensive way to build and it was also slow to change. Modernists prefer using technology and new materials to create structures that were previously impossible to build. Modernists sometimes throw the baby out with the path water. In trying to discover new possibilities modernism is asking what can we do it. Classicism is asking should we do it. Both perspectives keep design grounded in both form and function.

Charles and Ray Eames

One of the most successful furniture designers, Charles Eames, was actually an architect who was kicked out of school for being too radical. You may know him from his iconic Eames chair, which is what I sit in each day in my office. Charles and his wife Ray were very good at predicting the future. So good in fact that the Eames chair is one of the longest manufactured and best selling chairs of all time. Even the some of the work at the end of Charles and Ray Eames’s life that was not well received were glimpses of the future. What were considered the “failures” of Charles and Ray Eames at the time are now considered prophecies.

Ray Eames was always at the forefront of embracing new technologies and pushing the boundaries of design. Recognizing the power of interconnectedness and the exchange of information, Ray set out to create an exhibit that would reflect these ideas. “Connections: The Work of Ray Eames,” was an exhibit that explored the concept of interconnectedness in various forms of design. Ray saw the similarities between the way information is organized and the interconnectedness of design elements. She believed that design should be viewed as a network of ideas and relationships.

Charles Eames’s last design was a A celebration of the lives of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He grouped historic items by their associations with each other, not in museum-like exhibits where all similar items are placed together. Visitors were encouraged to engage with the exhibits in non-linear ways, exploring connections between different artworks, historical events, and cultural phenomena. The exhibit employed innovative techniques such as film projections, audio recordings, and tactile displays to create a truly immersive and participatory experience.. Charles was inviting people to experience history from the perspective that most interested them, not the exhibit designer.

Although it was popular with patrons the exhibit was derided by reviewers and critics. The NY Times wrote in 1976:

“It is, indeed, precisely the kind of Bicentennial show so many of us have dreaded—an elaborate and expensive exercise in nostalgia, rich in picturesque effects but devoid of anything resembling a serious idea. It is certainly not an exhibition that belongs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It belongs in the show windows of I.B.M.”

Intuitives often feel things that they cannot explain rationally or intellectually. Many of these things are currents in society, culture and technology. What some call being an empath is a deep attunement to systems and small changes in others and our larger society. What Charles and Ray were feeling but would never live to see was the advent of the internet. They were intuiting the way that modern technology was about to hyper connect the world in a way that would necessitate the destruction and reinvention of many forms of political, social and economic systems.

Both of the Eames’ exhibits were visions of something called hypertext, what would become the structure of the soon to be internet. Hypertext works by linking text, images, and other media elements through clickable references that connect to related information. This interconnectedness enables users to explore information in a non-linear and dynamic manner, following their interests and making connections creating a personalized and associative way of accessing and organizing information. Their intuition about the nature of interconnection was ahead of the technology of its time. Both Eames’s were trying to make digital clickable links with analog materials in “meat space”.

It is minds like this that I find so fascinating as when trying to tie psychology back into zeitgeist, myth, design, storytelling and the NY times best seller list. I look for keys to our psyche in all parts of our culture and chairs seem like one of the most interesting way to do this. It is part of why I love chairs so much. I have joked that I started a therapy practice in order to feed my lounge chair addiction.

Chairs might first seem like innocuous necessities at first but when you really sit with it (hehe) the role they play they becomes much more important. I had a Latin professor tell me one time that the words that we never use don’t change much. The words we use often change quickly. Think about it, the slang that was cool when you were in high school no longer is “copacetic” or “groovy” because it became so popular.  Words change because new generations, new social attitudes, new technologies, and new kinds of experiences means that the most frequently used words will be modified or replaced first. Chairs arte the same way. They are a piece of furniture that most people will be the most likely to use in the most settings.

Because chairs are such a necessity they are also great barometers for style and culture. What ideas are timeless, and what ideas are outdated by the end of the week. Chairs tell you what a place is, what it values, and the social worth of the posterior they support. Chairs are highly symbolic and influential in politics, religion, myth, film, and story telling. What was that tv show that got real big? Game of Chairs or something? Chairs give you immediate context in situations where you might not even realize you are thinking about the chair. I know this guy in the throne is the king. I know who the choir, parishioners, and bishop are based on where they sit. The chairman sits in the chair at the head of the table. I would not sit at the head of the table in someone else’s house. The brand and purpose of your business is communicated based on the chairs. I know something is out of date when the once commonplace chairs are now a rarity.

Design was always going to be an integral part of Taproot Therapy. It was important to me that the style of our brand communicated that we had ideological roots in both the cutting edge brain based medicine of the future as well as the holistic and ancient wisdom traditions of the past. Our brand design concept was Gandalf’s wizard study meets an Apple store. The concept for our website was Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright meets a yurt in the southwest.

Not everyone will notice these details, but they will still feel them. The things that we don’t notice often speak to us louder than the details we are trying to listen too. People feel the weight of furniture, they feel real wood grain is different than laminated compressed saw dust bard that has wood grain printed on it. People know if they saw this same chair at Target or if it is a unique, maybe weird, piece of art that makes them slow down and think. People feel these details even if they don’t exactly know why or what they feel. The spaces that we inhabit affect us unconsciously and I wanted Taproot to feel different. That’s why all the offices are so different at Taproot. The style of each office is based on the personality and perspective of each clinician.

Most of the styles of chair at Taproot come from the Modern and Mid Century period. So what are those and why did it happen?

What is Mid Century Modern Furniture

The Modernist Movement emerged as a response to the changing cultural landscape of the 19th century. Where older styles had been based on mimicking the power and extravagant resources of European nobility, now patients began to rethink the idea of what a chair is and what it could be. French and English styles went out of favor. Inspired by the principles of simplicity, functionality, and efficiency, new designers championed the idea of honesty in materials. By showcasing materials in their true form, devoid of unnecessary ornamentation, designers aimed to reflect the spirit of an evolving society. Things like gold, ornamentation and paint were not used to disguise wood. Instead wood was celebrated.

This led to the clean and stripped down archetypal design of modernism. One of the key aspects of mid century modernist design philosophy was the integration of manufacturing processes as part of design. Designers like the Eames understanding the capabilities and limitations of manufacturing processes, meant that they could create designs that were both efficient to produce and aesthetically pleasing. The used mass production not to make more money but make higher quality available to more people.  This approach allowed them to create innovative and mass-produced furniture that was affordable and accessible to a wide audience.

Modern and postmodern design generally emphasized the importance of honesty in materials. Honesty of material means materials should be used in their truest form, showcasing their inherent qualities and characteristics. Don’t print plastic to look like wood, instead showcase all the neat things that you can only do with plastic. In the Eames Lounge Chair, molded plywood and leather upholstery, allows the natural grain and texture of the wood to be visible, and highlights the beauty of the materials instead of painting, printing, or covering it up.

During the Cold War era, game theory and the ideological battle between the West and the East played a significant role in shaping the expressive styles within the Modernist Movement. Mathematician John Nash’s game theory influenced design to embrace individualism and personal expression as a response to perceived conformity in communist societies. This shift towards individuality fueled the emergence of unique and expressive works.

Remarkably, the influence of intelligence agencies, such as the CIA, cannot be ignored when examining the development of the Modernist art movement. The CIA covertly supported various artistic endeavors during the Cold War, including the promotion of Modernist art. This involvement aimed to showcase the creative freedom and individualistic spirit prevalent in the West, serving as a cultural weapon against the perceived conformity of communist societies.

One prominent figure within the Modernist Movement is Adrien Pearsall, whose designs left an indelible mark on the era. Pearsall’s furniture had water-like curling lines. Some of it looked like water and others looked like boats. Sofas became gondolas and rafts that could sail around a living room like it was a venetian canal. Pearsall’s iconic creations showcased a harmonious blend of functionality, aesthetics, and comfort. His style influenced the Nagare (流, flow) design language of Mazda cars.

During the rise of the Modernist Movement, there was a strong emphasis on individual expression and the celebration of uniqueness. While some iconic Modernist pieces achieved a delicate balance between form and function, others prioritized individualistic aesthetics over practicality, resulting in furniture that may be visually striking but less comfortable or usable. I am a fan of the minimalism, honesty in materials, and more natural  appearance of designers like Pearsall. The harsh chrome and confusing juxtaposed materials of La Corbusier and HR Gigerish coldness of Mies van der Rohe, I could do without. I see them as dead ends in design and one of the risks of over indulging a modernist tendency.

You won’t see any chrome or fur at Taproot, but many hues of natural wood and leather. In fact, so many of our people bought the Kardiel Woodrow couches after they saw them at Taproot that Kardiel made us a brand ambassador. That was not expected or intended. If you are interested you can use the offer code TAPROOT at Kardiel.com. It helps us provide therapy to people at a reduced rate and you can get some nice furniture that will last longer than you.

German philosopher Hannah Arendt argued that humans exist in a condition of “natality,” meaning that each person is born into a unique world and has the capacity to initiate something new. For Arendt, the world is the space where individuals can create and establish their own identities, engage with others, and participate in meaningful activities. Culture is formed through human activities such as labor, work, and action. The environment plays a crucial role in shaping and influencing individuals’ experiences. Arendt recognized that the world is a dynamic and interactive space that individuals engage with. The environment provides the context and conditions for human action and facilitates the development of individual and collective identities.

One of my favorite authors, Robert Pogue Harrison writes that design and architecture are not merely utilitarian or functional but are imbued with cultural and aesthetic significance. He suggests that our living spaces reflect and shape our sense of belonging, identity, and connection to the world. He examines the ways in which architecture and design influence our experience of “being at home” and the impact of our surroundings on our well-being. Regarding chairs, Harrison notes that they mediate between the body and the environment. He discusses how chairs provide a space of rest, comfort, and contemplation, influencing our posture, movements, and interactions with others. The tools we use, especially the most essential ones, are either successfully connecting you to growth and beauty or failing to.

Many people make the case that these lounge chairs cost exorbitant amounts of money and are a luxury for the ultra wealthy. Some of them are ostentatious or downright stupid but that is largely because they are either rare antiques or made by the few remaining companies that employ people to build things. Again, we have forgotten what design means. Most of the chairs that we have at Taproot I didn’t pay a dime for. They belonged to friends and family who were moving out of their houses or onto the next life. Somewhere found at garage or estate sales like the Niels Moller Model 71 chairs in the Neurostim room. Sure they needed work but they were designed to be worked on forever. Things we love need work. Things with no value we throw away. I had no problem dis and re assembling them into pieces because they were designed to be timeless not replaced next year.

I have tried and failed to put together a brand new $500 table from modern furniture companies without breaking it. That’s fine, Wayfair will send you a new one for free because they know what it is worth. I was able to refinish and reupholster the antiques at Taproot for $30 in a few days.  I could have sold them on Etsy, but I would rather share them with everyone who walks through the door. They were my late godmother’s and I don’t have room for them at home. My Godmother loved Carl Jung, labyrinths and depth psychology. I think of her when I see them and know she is still here. Myself and other therapists I work with have worked in practices that threw out  and replaced more of an investment in Wayfair furniture annually than I spent to set up our entire practice. My kids will inherit that furniture. The chairs connect me and you and one day my children to the beautiful person my godmother was.

Isn’t it fun to sit with these ideas for a minute and remember a time when people made things out of love and for the sake of art and self discovery. What does it do to our mental health to live in a world where everything we eat, watch, put in our house and live in has become dispensable disposable garbage. We have forgotten what design means. People will talk about the beautiful “design” of an iPhone and then throw it away in a few month when the next one has rounder corners. Good design is timeless, even if it is the timeless experience of remembering the way a meal was plated or how it tasted. It lasted. Some beautiful designs of soft and hardware come out of Silicon Valley. I still wax nostalgic about my candy bar Sony Erickson college phone, but I’m weird. Realistically how many of you are framing photos and treasuring memories of each generation of iPhone that broke when you sat on it because it wasn’t a chair. Generally most of high technology “innovations” are just disguises for triggering humanities worst addictive, obsessive, and competitive tendencies.

The reason for this is right there in the back of the iPhone. Designed by Apple in California! and then in tiny print made in china. Manufacturing is part of design. Or it was. We think that design is something that we can dream up in a vacuum and then outsource all the nitty gritty details of realizing our vision to someone else. As Charles and Ray Eames discovered when they built their first chair. You design it as you are manufacturing it. The design for their first chair was too hard for them to build themselves, so they started over with something the two of them could build before they sent it to a manufacturer. They wanted what they built to last and enrich the lives of those who used it. They weren’t trying to sell you an Eames chair every year. They wanted to see the future for the beauty of what that future could be, not to sell it too you. The American brands without planned obsolescence, like Maytag Appliance, have gone bankrupt and been sold off. Prophets and profits are not the same thing.

I believe that we can build a better world than one where all of our interactions with people and the spaces we inhabit are not merely transactions. We need to rethink where we assign value and where we place our identity. We need to admit that the places we live and work in effect us and are worth our mindful attention. Not just as practical considerations but as intuitive creative projects for us to find our own and our collective humanities soul.  Modernist designers sought to break away from traditional forms and create furniture that embodied their personal visions. This approach resonated with the American spirit of individualism. Breaking old ideas is always a risk but creation is a risky business. Good design is timeless because it comes from timeless elements and forms in the human psyche. It may take generations to map these unseen realms of our collective humanity through our intuition. We don’t always know good design when we see, but I would argue we know it when we feel. Even more so, we know it when it sticks around. Arendt and Harrison are correct that changing our self begins with changing our environment and vice versa. If you want to change your life start by changing your chair.

This is my favorite chair

If you want to dip your toe into the water of modernist furniture here is a designer cheat sheet to get you started.

Mid Century Modern Furniture Designers

Hans Wegner:

Danish furniture designer, is often referred to as the “grandfather of chairs” due to his immense contributions to the field of chair design. His innovative and timeless chair designs have had a profound impact on the furniture industry and continue to be revered and admired to this day.

Wegner gained recognition and acclaim for his ability to create chairs that seamlessly combined form and function. He had a deep understanding of the human body and ergonomics, which allowed him to design chairs that were not only visually appealing but also comfortable and supportive. Wegner believed that a chair should be a perfect balance of aesthetics, functionality, and comfort.

Wegner was also known for his exploration of various materials and production techniques. He worked extensively with wood, especially oak and teak, using traditional craftsmanship methods. His chairs showcased the natural beauty of wood and displayed intricate joinery techniques, which became hallmarks of his designs. Wegner’s meticulous attention to detail and his commitment to high-quality craftsmanship elevated his chairs to the realm of functional art.

Arne Jacobsen:

Celebrated for his minimal, simple, and distinct lounge chair designs. Notable pieces include the Egg Chair, Swan Chair, and Swan Sofa.

Eero Aarnio:

Known for his innovative furniture designs in the 1960s, particularly his plastic and fiberglass chairs. Explore the iconic Ball Chair, Bubble Chair, and more.

Eero Saarinen:

A Finnish American architect and industrial designer renowned for his mastery of varying styles. Discover his iconic designs, including the “Womb” chair and the “Tulip” or “Pedestal” group.

Eileen Gray:

A multifaceted artist known for her independent spirit and contributions to furniture design. Explore her notable works, such as the Bibendum Chair and the Eileen Gray Side Table. You might recognize her transat chair as the one that Fredo cant sit up in when he confronts his brother in The Godfather Part 2.

George Nelson:

One of the founding fathers of American Modernism, renowned for his contributions to cleaner urban design. Explore his well-known Modern Classic Furniture designs, including the Nelson Bench, Coconut Chair, and Marshmallow Sofa.

Isamu Noguchi:

A sculptor known for his flowing interconnectivity, reflected in his iconic Noguchi Table. Discover his collaborations with other midcentury designers in our extensive collection.

Le Corbusier:

A Swiss architect, designer, and urbanist who played a pivotal role in the development of Modern architecture. Explore his iconic LC-2, LC-3, and LC-4 chairs and sofa sets.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe:

A German architect recognized as one of the pioneering masters of Modern Architecture.

The post You May Address the Chair: What we sit in tells us what we stand for appeared first on Taproot Therapy Collective.