Design & Technology
Herman Miller Sayl: The Bridge Behind the Design
Published
What does San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge have to do with an office chair? For the Herman Miller Sayl, suspension bridges helped inspire a different approach to support.
A bridge as a starting point
Herman Miller asked designer Yves Béhar to create an affordable chair combining thoughtful ergonomics, distinctive design and efficient use of materials. Béhar looked to suspension bridges: structures that support substantial loads with relatively little material.
A backrest with a purpose
That thinking shaped Sayl’s frameless suspension back. Supported by a Y-shaped tower, its flexible material uses different levels of tension to provide support where needed while allowing movement elsewhere.
The open pattern is more than decoration. It makes the support structure visible and gives the chair its light, sculptural appearance.
Why is it called Sayl?
Viewed from the side, the chair resembles a sail. Herman Miller explains that the name references the sailing vessels passing beneath the bridges that inspired the design. Replacing the “i” in “sail” with a “y” acknowledges the chair’s Y-Tower structure.
From San Francisco inspiration to your workspace
At Pro Furniture, we appreciate how Sayl makes its engineering part of its character. The open back can suit a creative studio, a modern office or a home workspace where the chair is visible throughout the day.
Appearance is only part of the decision. Try the backrest, adjust the seat and check which arm and tilt options are included in the configuration you are considering.
Discover the Herman Miller Sayl or book a showroom visit to explore its fit.
You try so you know!