The Redesign of a Cult Classic – Making the RH New Logic
In 1987 the RH Logic was launched, laying the foundations for what Flokk brand RH would become known for – quality ergonomic seating where the chair itself follows the body’s own movements.
Over the decades new models evolved the design of the chair, but it wasn’t until the 2019 release of the “new” RH Logic that we saw a true design revolution. This relaunch solidified its position among Flokk's most successful chairs, a cult favourite among ergonomic experts.
A key part of the redesign process was a series of immersive group sessions with regular users of the original RH Logic. Architectural insights further refined the chair's visual evolution, blending contemporary aesthetics with ergonomic functionality.
To find out more, we invited several members of the design team to reflect on the process and share their insights on creating such a successful chair.
Raising the bar
Christian Lodgaard, Chief Design Officer at Flokk, acknowledges the enduring popularity of the original RH Logic while identifying untapped potential within the concept. He comments that the goal of the project was to enhance environmental performance, make the chair more appealing to the architectural and design community (A&D), and refine the user experience, from aesthetics to touch and feel. To elevate all aspects of the previous RH Logic while meeting new benchmarks.
Achieving this meant rigorous validation processes. "We decided to up the bar on how we validated the design," says Lodgaard. This entailed exposing the design not only to internal evaluation but also to end users, architects, and designers, signifying a commitment to delivering a truly exceptional product.
Refining the user experience
To achieve these aims, Morten Kildahl, Senior Project Manager, highlights the pivotal role of user group studies. These studies offered insights from users spanning diverse countries and job roles who were familiar with the original RH Logic. A common theme emerged—a reluctance to adjust chairs due to complexity and fear of others altering settings. Kildahl notes, "Users were scared to even try to adjust their chairs…we saw that adjustments need to be much more intuitive."
User feedback significantly influenced the chair's levers. Kildahl emphasises, "The user group gave us valuable feedback throughout the project, but where they had the biggest impact was on the levers…how they looked and how understandable they were."
Enhanced visual appeal
Interior architects, unexposed to the original chair, provided fresh perspectives. Øystein Austad, Flokk Design Manager and former external collaborator explains what they hoped to get out of this particular group - guidance on how to simplify the chair's visual appeal while retaining RH's heritage. They meticulously tackled details, eliminating clutter and refining proportions. Austad explains, "We paid a lot of attention…from behind as the front, the dimensions and how everything was working together." This yielded a sleeker, more contemporary silhouette.
It’s all in the details
Pernille Jensen Stoltze, Flokk's textile designer, recounts a memorable interaction with one user group member who drew an unexpected analogy—an exclusive Italian pen's satisfying click sound. Stoltze emphasises the significance of this detail, noting, "It's all in the details...you get this nice feedback, a direct feedback, and that's also about quality, it taught us a lot." This unique insight ignited a broader understanding of how nuances enrich the user experience.
Stoltze’s comment highlights the value of real-world engagement, sharing the design teams’ diverse interactions with users across various contexts. This authentic approach shaped the chair's journey, underscoring the power of first-hand experiences in refining ergonomic excellence.
Part two of this article will look at how the project revolutionised the environmental impact of the RH Logic chair