'The Ariel' by QOR360: Innovation in Chair

The Ariel

Chair for QOR360

QOR360 makes sitting active rather than passive. Designed by Dr. Turner Osler MD, the goal was to design a seat top that moves effortlessly in all directions while returning to the center and rotates directly underneath the sitter. It's all powered by QOR360’s patented geometric solid, the Red Rocker. The Ariel chair engages the core, improves posture, and relieves back pain. It has been created, tested, and approved by a team of doctors, designers, and bodywork experts, inspired by the teachings and practices of Feldenkrais, yoga, Tai Chi and AT.

QOR360 2020 Startup Bronze Press Kit № 92125

Download Press Kit № 92125

Download Press Kit № 92125 Chair for QOR360 by QOR360 to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.

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The Ariel by QOR360

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Chair by QOR360

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QOR360 The Ariel

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QOR360Brand Logo

Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.

This 1800-pixel image adapts to your print needs: sharp and detailed at 6 inches with 300 DPI, it transitions smoothly to 12 inches at 150 DPI, preserving visual quality. Accredited press members can download high-res images free of watermarks. Alternatively, low-res images are instantly available. Photo credits are listed in the Image Credits Section.

The Ariel Chair Press Releases

Press resources for The Ariel are offered in several languages: English.

The Ariel Chair Media Articles

Leverage our ready-to-publish articles on The Ariel, offered in a range of languages: Spanish, Hindi, Turkish, Arabic (Standard), Indonesian, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Russian, Korean, Italian, French, Portuguese, Dutch, German and English.

Unique Properties

The patented rocking mechanism lets the seat move in all directions effortlessly. It feels like floating. However the crux of the design is there are no moving pieces. It's all done with a unique geometric solid that took Dr. Osler over a year to develop. By letting the seat move, the chair engages the core, improves posture, and relieves back pain.

Production Technology

injection molded polycarbonate rocker, hand stitched leather upholstery, 1in rubber motor mounts for bumpers, office chair parts: level 4 gas cylinder and aluminum base. Dipped red nylon handle. CNC cut Baltic birch painted with non-toxic black finish.

Design Challenge

The hardest part of this design was making it affordable. It would be easy to make an insanely complex mechanism and spare no expense, but to make it as simple and affordably as possible, this is another challenge entirely. The Ariel was successfully completed to be manufactured at scale for a reasonable price. And the mechanism is the simplest for a chair that moves directly underneath the seat.

Project Duration

Project was started in 2016 and is continuing to evolve each year. It was designed in Colchester Vermont USA.

Operation Flow

The unique rocking mechanism is a geometric solid. The seat is attached to the rocker with rubber connectors. There are no moving parts, the seat rocks in all directions on the geometric solid thus letting you move while you sit. The rubber mounts merely keep the chair from falling apart, and the 1in rubber mounts on the back and sides limit the rocking range and keep people from rocking too far backwards or sideways. The gas cylinder provides rotation and elevation. There is a handle designed into the back which you can carry the chair with, which is easy because it is only 15lbs. There are hand holds cut into the underside of the seat which allows for a handle to pull the chair forward or sideways when sitting in it.

Research

2,500 people have purchased the chair and use it daily. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. People have said everything from, they don't feel stiff after sitting in the chair for hours, to it cured their back pain. Others have commented it improves their posture and helps with certain medical conditions (arthritis, scoliosis, disk herniation ...)

Inspiration

Dr. Turner Osler MD, the inventor, was a trauma surgeon for over 30 years, he is now an emeritus professor at the University of Vermont where he does epidemiologic research. He was dogged by constant back pain when he moved to a desk job and he also saw that sitting was an immense health problem. Prolonged sitting increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. The rate of back pain in America is over 80%. Dr. Osler set out to find a solution for both sitting disease and back pain and designed the Ariel chair. By allowing the seat to move in all directions, he injected effortless movement into the seating experience.

Image Credits

Main Image #1. Scott Brightwell Photography Optional Image #1. Scott Brightwell Photography Optional Image #2. Scott Brightwell Photography

Project Overview

The Ariel Chair has been a Bronze winner in the Furniture Design award category in the year 2019 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

Bronze Recognition

QOR360 was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2020, a testament to excellence of their work The Ariel Chair.

QOR360 Press Releases

Access a rich repository of press releases on QOR360, offered to press and media professionals for unrestricted use in their stories. Now available: Immediate access to 1 press releases for journalists.

The Ariel: A Revolutionary Chair Redefining Sitting Experience

Introducing The Ariel by QOR360, a chair designed to engage the core, improve posture, and relieve back pain, all while allowing effortless movement in all directions.

QOR360 Newsroom

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