Standly Bao: Redefining Comfort for Standing Workers

Award-Winning Folding Chair by Ming Hsiu Lee and Hu Jui Chung

The inspiration behind Standly Bao is rooted in the designers' empathy for workers who endure long periods of standing, such as bartenders and street vendors. Recognizing the health implications of this, including back pain and leg soreness, the designers sought to create a device that would enhance the working experience of these individuals. Through extensive interviews and collaboration with physical therapists, a series of prototypes were developed, leading to a design that is not only practical but also health-conscious.

Standly Bao stands out for its unique properties. It serves as an assistive device for workers, helping them maintain a good standing posture and mental state while offering the same mobility as standing. The three-point pressure method reduces the pressure on the lower limbs, preventing the development of incorrect standing postures. When folded, the device frees up space, making it ideal for narrow working areas such as bar counters or department store counters.

The technical specifications of Standly Bao are 550 mm x 400 mm x 760 mm. The design is easy to operate. When a user needs to rest, they simply pull out the device and place their knees on the lower mat while the upper mat moves beneath them, supporting most of their body weight. The device automatically returns to its original position when the user steps out of it. The bottom panel can be folded up, providing a step for the user to stretch or place their feet. When storing multiple Standly Bao units, the bottom panel can be rotated backward for a flat form.

The design process, which started in July 2019 in Taipei and concluded in May 2020, involved extensive human factors research. The designers worked with a physical therapist to understand the causes of back pain and leg soreness associated with prolonged standing. They then developed and tested multiple prototypes with hundreds of participants to arrive at the final design. The result is a device with dimensions suitable for most people and a practical adjustment mechanism.

The Standly Bao project faced several challenges, the most significant being the need to understand the working environment in different workspaces and create a design that is both practical and useful. This was achieved through numerous interviews and research with workers from various workspaces. The design has been recognized for its innovation and practicality, winning the Silver A' Furniture Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation.