Five Questions With: Martin W. Keen

Martin W. Keen, founder of Focal Upright Furniture LLC in North Kingstown, talked with Providence Business News recently about how he got the idea for his ergonomic office furniture and the problems that can result from sitting all day in traditional seated desks. / COURTESY FOCAL UPRIGHT FURNITURE
Martin W. Keen, founder of Focal Upright Furniture LLC in North Kingstown, talked with Providence Business News recently about how he got the idea for his ergonomic office furniture and the problems that can result from sitting all day in traditional seated desks. / COURTESY FOCAL UPRIGHT FURNITURE

Martin W. Keen, founder of Focal Upright Furniture LLC in North Kingstown, talked with Providence Business News recently about how he got the idea for his ergonomic office furniture and the problems that can result from sitting all day in traditional seated desks. The company began in 2012 and employs 25. It also was recognized recently with a Good Design award for its sphere workstation.
PBN: How did you get the idea to create desks of this kind and ergonomic office furniture in general?
KEEN:
My designs are generally born of need; I am responding to a problem I am experiencing. The original Locus Workstation for Focal was the result of years of struggling to create an ideal workspace for myself.

I had been working as a designer in the footwear industry, suffering in cubicles and traditional seated desks. I dealt with the fatigue, lack of focus and pain that comes from standard office chairs. When I established my own design studio, I actively sought a better way to work and the furniture that could support it. There was nothing on the market that provided the right posture so I made my own.

The “aha” moment came when I found a tall metal tractor seat and tipped it forward to lean against it. I knew instantly that this was the sweet spot, halfway between sitting and standing. There is a lot of research now to back up what I discovered through trial and error. This upright leaning posture offers the best of both worlds – the ease and comfort of sitting without inducing “sitting disease” and the myriad health benefits of standing without the pain and fatigue. It’s ideal.
PBN: Do you think eventually more employers will switch to standing, adjustable desks?
KEEN:
It’s already happening. Everyone has heard about how sitting all day at work is so detrimental to health and productivity. Employers are now incorporating alternatives like standing desks, treadmill desks and sit-stand desks. When people have the option to use one of these for an hour or two, they get a nice break from their regular chair.
The trouble with these options is that for most people, they are not sustainable. Very few of us enjoy standing or using a treadmill all day, every day. And the vast majority (about 80 percent) of people with sit-stand desks end up just leaving them down in the sit position after about 8 weeks. We are creatures of habit – sitting is a habit so if the chair is there, we use it. So the benefits of these options are pretty limited. That’s why the supported leaning posture of Focal’s upright seats is so revolutionary. It’s the healthiest working posture and it is easy and comfortable to do all day.
PBN: Why should workers use these types of desks?
KEEN:
Being upright is a better, healthier way to work. You keep the major muscles of your legs, abdomen and back engaged, helping keep them strong and supple. Our upright seating encourages significantly more movement than typical traditional chairs. The added movement increases your blood circulation and oxygen flow, sending a steady energy supply to your brain for added focus and creativity. And when using the Focal seats, your body assumes a very balanced neutral posture that supports the spine in its natural gentle S-curve.
In addition, long term sedentary behavior is linked to some serious health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and the one that accounts for the majority of employee absenteeism: chronic back pain.
The benefits aren’t just physical, either. People are more likely to work collaboratively and exchange ideas when they are upright and moving around. And when we feel good physically, our moods improve and our general outlook is more positive. All this leads to greater productivity and efficiency at work. We all want that.
PBN: What is the new product that you unveiled at the recent Providence Geeks dinner?
KEEN:
We had the first public unveiling of our brand-new Pivot Seat. What makes our company truly innovative is our unique take on office seating, so we are pretty excited to add Pivot to the line. It is pretty minimalist but stays true to our commitment toward movement, functionality and flexibility.
Like all our other seats, Pivot puts the user in a neutral and balanced posture that promotes health and well-being. Pre-orders of Pivot are really strong so we think it’s going to be a very popular product.
PBN: Was this the first time you received a Good Design award? (The award is given by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in cooperation with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies.)
KEEN:
Yes. I am honored to receive the Good Design award that traces its roots back to some of my designs heroes – Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames. It also goes to show that functional and practical solutions can also be elegant. The company was recognized for its sphere workstation.

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