Designing for the body

Published: 11.12.2025

Images: Fredrikke Schrøder

People: Arve Ekornes, Mariana Sousa - Head of Design, Sindre Selvig - Stressless project Engineer

What makes a comfortable seat? We certainly know. Ekornes literally shaped the furniture world when the company developed the first Stressless^® recliner, an iconic design that still retains every bit of its original desirability today. Now having honed and developed our craft over the past 50 years, we continue to produce Stressless^® furniture that utilizes scientific research around the human body, setting a new standard of comfort with our innovative and luxurious designs.

As the furniture world evolves, so too does the commitment that Stressless® dedicates to ergonomic design and unrivalled comfort. Our dedication to research and innovation has been instrumental in shaping the brand and is what continues to motivate us today. This, combined with a quest for a more sustainable product and production is what makes a Stressless® chair so unique.

An elevated experience with the Plus-system

Stressless® started out with conversations. Enthusiastic debates between designers, engineers and product designers about what makes a truly comfortable chair. We have always believed furniture design to be important and have always aspired to the highest standards. The development of the Plus – system in the early 90s, for example, significantly enhanced the sitting experience and was created at a time when the market was shifting towards more affordable chairs. We were determined to continue to focus on function and comfort and despite facing considerable resistance during development, we created the Plus - system, which was entirely unique and ultimately elevated Stressless® comfort to a new level.

- The Plus- system was unique in its ability to automatically adjust lumbar support, which adapts to different sitting positions. In addition to this lumbar support, the Plus- system ensured that the headrest remained in the optimum position for watching TV, as research showed that people sitting in a recliner were often doing this, says Arve Ekornes, who was heading the development of the new feature. Through user testing it was established that the most comfortable position was semi-reclined, so the system had to keep the head in the correct position to provide good head support as well as aiding relaxation. The research also ascertained that lumbar support, while beneficial in an upright position, could be too much in a reclined position, so the Plus -system automatically reduces the lumbar support as the chair is reclined.

- We worked with physiotherapists and used available research to gain extensive knowledge about the human body to ensure the system was as ergonomically correct as possible. At the time, no other chair had similar functions, so we applied for a patent, which was granted, says Ekornes.

Comfort refined by research

A recent Enhanced Comfort Project that involved similar rigorous research - including user testing, body pressure mapping and new comfort elements being constructed - helped develop the most advanced version of the Plus System yet. This is incorporated in the Stressless^®Adam Power recliner, where there is the option to personalize the synchronized motion.

- I am convinced that the activities and experiences gained in the Enhanced Comfort Project secured the comfort focus in the development of Stressless^®Adam, says Sindre Selvig, Stressless project engineer.

This commitment to comfort and research into how people use our furniture, alongside what we now know about the body’s need for movement whilst seated, has enabled us to produce the world's best recliner, delivering instant comfort, freedom of movement, pressure relief and body support.

However, for a product to be desirable and hold longevity in the market it must also deliver on aesthetic design. The customers must like what they see, and the product needs to fit seamlessly into their home. That is why designers have such a crucial role, and Ekornes have always had talented designers who have contributed significantly to the development of Stressless® furniture.

A team of comfort experts

Today the design group is led by Mariana Sousa, Head of Design. Her team is key in keeping the brand relevant with regards to technology, trends and how the world evolves.

– We believe that the world’s best recliners are not developed by individuals but by teams - a collaboration of professionals - each being a comfort-expert who has life-long experience in their fields, says Mariana Sousa. The design team is constantly gaining information about comfort, ergonomics, and function.

- The goal is always to make the next chair better than the last. We know what Stressless® is and what it should represent, and we always strive to improve design, function, and comfort - as well as achieving greater quality and a product that is more environmentally sustainable, Sousa adds.

- Looking at innovation allows Stressless® to evolve in the future.

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