1 Kinesit by Arper
Since launching at Orgatec last year, Arper’s first office chair – designed by Lievore Altherr Molina – has already won a few awards (the iF Gold, for example). All mechanisms are tucked away and out of view, with the height adjuster under the seat and an impressively thin lumbar support in the backrest. Plus, it comes in a huge selection of colours.

2 Coza by Boss Design
The UK manufacturer brings Martin Ballendat’s task chair this side of the Atlantic. Floating above the moulded seat foam, the backrest is made from a seemingly singular piece of perforated polymer that twists like a ribbon to create two sculptural armrests.

3 Maderas by Uhuru
The Brooklyn studio is making its Neocon debut, with this side chair inspired by mid-century Brazilian seats, with black leather webbing stretched over nanciton – a tropical hardwood that is an eco-friendly alternative to walnut.

4 BuzziHub Open by Buzzispace
The felt acoustic panel maker continues its expansion into the furniture world with this lounge seat with extra-high walls (minus the overheat panel of the original BuzziHub), designed for a moment of quiet – or a private phone call – in open-plan offices.

5 Cruz Stool by Goebel & Co
The relatively young American furniture maker sources its wood from sustainably managed sources, 95 per cent of which are within 100 miles of the workshop. This “ultimate universal seat” comes in cherry and walnut, or a combination of both.

6 SixE by Howe
Created to encourage collaboration in the classroom, this chair designed by PearsonLloyd incorporates storage, sliding slots, a coat hook – even a cup holder, to reduce those laptop-frying coffee spills. It comes in six colours, in armchair and side chair versions.

7 Wheels by Keilhauer
Leave it to Keilhauer and its frequent collaborators at the Vienna design studio Eoos to create a task chair that you can lie down in. The Wheels collection of ultra-mobile multi-functional furniture for collaborative environments includes a sculptural chaise lounge with a dramatic line drawing of metal rods as a base.

8 Variable HybrED Chair by Teknion
Here’s another all-in-one take on the student task chair: Teknion launches Alessandro Piretti’s modular, lightweight seat with features like double-articulating arms and a surface that rotates 180 degrees.