Designer Antonio Citterio and Vitra’s history of collaboration now spans an impressive three decades. Beginning in 1988 with the first AC task chair, followed by numerous iterations after, the architect/designer has investigated the science of seating adorned with an artful eye for making ergonomics as visually comforting to the eyes as the chairs are to the body. Citterio’s tenth task chair with the brand, the Vitra ACX, arrives as an evolution of that long-lasting partnership – a chair not only serving the tenets of universal ergonomics for the home or office, but also one embracing the goal of producing an object with a “long service life with the smallest possible carbon footprint.”

A Vitra ACX task chair against a salmon-orange hued background with black arms and base with caster wheels. Chair is facing toward the left in profile.

Three Vitra AC1 task chairs in blue, black and white dot pattern, and red upholstery. Both left and right chairs are angled, with center black and white chair facing forward. All three feature caster wheels.

Citterio and Vitra’s first collaboration took form in the AC1 in 1988, a juxtaposition of forms, patterns, and colors reflective of that postmodern era.

Read another article:What Is Women’s Equality Day and Why Is It Celebrated?

Vitra is calling the ACX “arguably the most sustainable task chair available,” a claim supported by the chair’s 100% recyclable construction (with the caveat the percentage does change according to specific customization options). Constructed with a limited number of components to simplify service and maintenance, Citterio explains, “The use of up to 100% recyclable materials was the single most important factor in the design process.”

A disassembled Vitra ACX task chair against a salmon-orange hued background with two different knit fabric cover back options shown in dark raspberry hue and another in salmon.

Aesthetically, the ACX’s three-dimensional form-fitted knit covering the backrest is intentionally minimalist and without the intrusion of seams, yet the fabric retains a tactile imprint design promising supportive softness. The airiness of the mesh fabric design will appeal to those who prefer a lightweight presence across the back versus a traditionally padded support.

Two Vitra ACX task chairs set against a salmon-orange hued background. One on left has arms with a knit pattern cover, the other without arms in a lighter salmon shade.
Read another article:Stay in This Beautiful Victorian House in Nottinghamshire, England?

Made from 100% recycled polyester the knit cover is expressed in muted tones, resulting in a slight melange effect to complement both the ACX’s dark- and light-colored frame options.

The ACX is my tenth office swivel chair with Vitra and embodies the extensive know-how acquired throughout 30 years of close collaboration.

– Antonio Citterio

Bearded man with man bun in dark blue clothing seated in the Vitra ACX task chair against a salmon-orange hued background. He is turned facing away from viewed at a slight angle with legs crossed.

Read another article:The home of a Swedish book lover

There has been an ongoing trend of subtracting controls from task chairs and the ACX follows suit. The elimination of physical controls can be attributed to reducing weight, cost, and in turn any confusion related to adjustment operation. In lieu of buttons and levers, the ACX’s mechanism automatically adjusts to a wide range of user weights, with only the seat’s height manually adjustable. Otherwise the chair is engineered to respond and adapt immediately to a person’s body, offering comfort and optimal support without a single control push, turn, or pull.

Person's back torso in dark blue clothing seated in the Vitra ACX task chair against a salmon-orange hued background.

The lower part of the ACX backrest is a frame designed to offer lumbar support and optimal air circulation. Paired with a mesh or knitted cover stretched over this structure, the shell construction offers a great freedom of movement in the upper back and shoulder area unhindered by a frame.

The chair’s adaptive mechanisms are seamlessly integrated into the panel under the seat – an “adaptive” design, as described by Citterio – contributing to the chair’s compact design and uncluttered appearance. The mechanism is available with or without forward tilt, while the other features – height, seat depth, backrest lock, and two counterweight settings – are always included as standard.

Woman with curly dark hair in dark blue clothing leaning back in the Vitra ACX task chair against a salmon-orange hued background.

“When you use a recycled material, the design needs to adapt to its inherent characteristics, while the overall production process has to take the physical and mechanical qualities of the material into account,” explains Citterio. “The structural elements in ACX are made of up to approximately 60% recycled materials, depending on the model.”

Designer Antonio Citterio in a blue jacket and slacks holding up the upper half of his Vitra ACX task chair with stretch fabric back. In the background are the other pieces of the chair, including its caster wheel base and seat, with two other ACX task chairs on the left in orange, red fabrics with light gray base with wheels.

Two light gray Vitra ACX task chairs with arms, one on left facing toward the left, the second facing forward revealing its knit pattern cover back upholstery.

Three all-black Vitra ACX task chairs with mesh and knit woven backs. The first chair on the left is with its back facing toward viewer, other two on the right are facing forward. All three have caster wheels.

While Citterio’s ACX design alludes to concerns about the environment, its adaptive nature is also a response to the evolution of the work environment itself. “I see the office environment becoming more and more collaborative, more relaxed, less hierarchical, with the emergence of more informal, flexible, multi-purpose meeting spaces and ‘disruptive’ elements derived from residential ambiances.”

Viewing into a home office with the door ajar of a dark green and black Vitra ACX office chair behind dark green desk with Apple iMac and floating wall shelf decorated with photos and other miscellaneous items.

Vitra ACX at the foot of a long conference table accessorized with small privacy partitions and small desk lamp, stationery, and an open book.

The ACX is available with height-adjustable armrests or 3D armrests, alongside in a range of natural muted tones.

Antonio Citterio Photo: Gianluca Di Ioia

The Vitra ACX is available in three versions: Mesh, Soft, and Light. The ACX Mesh starts at $990 and is outfitted with a knitted semitransparent fabric backrest, the ACX Soft starting at $1105 with a padded knit cover, with the entry-level ACX Light starting at $875 with a standard mesh knit cover (but only available in black).

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Similar Posts