How do you reinvent the chair?

The JumpSeat seating line started as a simple answer to a difficult problem: comfortably seating 100+ people in a space that won’t fit regular furniture. Ziba’s custom-designed headquarters in Portland included a small auditorium that played host to dozens of public and private events every year, but its risers were too narrow for typical theater seating. To elevate the space from a casual gathering place to a premium event venue, we needed high-quality seating that essentially disappeared when not in use. And because the space was used for everything from panel discussions to retail environment protoyping, the seating had to be flexible, removable, compact and storable. It also had to be made from everyday materials, available at any woodworking shop, using simple construction methods. A tall order…but also a fascinating design challenge.

On airplanes and trains, a “jump seat” folds down from the wall to provide temporary seating. Ziba’s hypothesis was that the folding format could be elevated through thoughtful design and materials, so we set to work building and testing prototypes. Rather than a hinge, we looked to the human spine for inspiration: a flexible series of solid components that becomes rigid when bent. A combination of Baltic plywood, high-density foam and sheet steel provided strength, flexibility and comfort. Alternating cut-outs in the plywood “vertebrae” minimized the chance of catching fingers or clothes. And through months of trial and error, we dialed in the exact thickness, angle, and structure to produce a comfortable seat that took up mere inches when not in use.

The first JumpSeats were custom manufactured and installed in Ziba’s auditorium, where they quickly became objects of magic and delight for guests and visitors. Realizing the broad range of potential applications, we began exploring alternate versions and materials and collaborated with Sedia Systems to develop a commercial version of the JumpSeat. Today you can find JumpSeats in auditoriums around the world, but also in waiting rooms, clinics, schools, and even private homes. In mass production since 2012, the JumpSeat line is patented worldwide, has won numerous awards and has become one of Sedia’s most prominent and popular offerings