Upah
Organic inspiration, professional performance
- Product Upah
- Customer Delaoliva
-
Sector
Office
Facilities -
Services
Product design
Trend Research
Upah was conceived as a flagship piece, an office chair capable of representing a new stage for delaoliva. The company sought to define its own distinctive design language. Upah became the opportunity to express that identity through a product that combined high performance with a versatile aesthetic suitable for a wide range of work contemporary spaces, that need furniture that created belonging, flexibility and coherence. Upah was born with the ambition to empower teams, enhance user experience and reinforce the brand’s value. Natural, balanced and instantly recognisable, the chair draws on an expressive geometry inspired by intertwined branches: a structural composition that conveys stability, warmth and authenticity while maintaining a deep commitment to sustainability.
- Product Upah
- Customer Delaoliva
-
Sector
Office
Facilities -
Services
Product design
Trend Research
Our challenge
Redefining ergonomics through inclusive innovation
Designing Upah meant going beyond the existing typologies within Delaoliva’s portfolio. The company needed a chair that could stand as a new reference: ergonomic, technically advanced, visually distinctive and adaptable to many types of spaces. The challenge was to elevate the brand’s design maturity while honouring its spirit of flexibility and user-centred configuration.
A key focus was the development of an inclusive height-adjustable backrest. Many task chairs in this segment lacked true vertical adjustability, often relying on external elements. We wanted to integrate a high-performance up-and-down system directly into the structure to achieve a cleaner, more contemporary expression. This mechanism had to comfortably accommodate a wide range of users’ hights , ensuring universal ergonomics and a more welcoming experience for all.
At the same time, we needed to ensure recyclability and ease of disassembly at the end of the chair’s life cycle. Minimising metal and prioritising polypropylene allowed us to design a product aligned with sustainable practices while keeping the brand’s hallmark configurability intact. Upah had to maintain Delaoliva’s essence while moving decisively into a new era.
The impact
A leap forward in comfort, expression and sustainability
Upah represents a meaningful leap forward for delaoliva. It gives the brand a flagship model with its own visual identity, one that is expressive, balanced and emotionally connected to nature. Its structural language contributes a fresh aesthetic that stands out in modern hybrid offices while remaining transversal enough to adapt to different environments depending on finishes and configurations.
The integrated backrest adjustment system has expanded the chair’s ergonomic capabilities, making it more inclusive and better suited for dynamic workplaces where different people may use the same station throughout the day. By improving both adaptability and comfort, Upah enhances the daily experience of users and strengthens the sense of belonging within organisations.
Its sustainable construction, based on recyclable polypropylene and simplified metal use, reinforces the brand’s environmental commitment and supports the growing demand for responsible, long-lasting products. As a result, Upah positions Delaoliva at the forefront of contemporary workspace design, offering a product that delivers performance, expression and continuity.
Design journey
From nature - inspired vision to contemporary workspace icon
The journey of Upah began with an ambition: to craft a chair that could become a point of reference within the office landscape. That vision guided every decision. We explored forms that could express natural balance, arriving at a composition of overlapping structural layers reminiscent of converging branches. This concept created a sense of solidity and equilibrium, giving the chair a personality that feels both contemporary and approachable.
One of the central elements of the design process was the up-and-down regulation system. We dedicated significant attention to making it intuitive, precise and seamlessly integrated into the backrest frame. By removing external mechanical cues and embedding the system within the structure, the chair gained a more fluid aesthetic while achieving a higher level of functionality. Combined with an independent lumbar adjustment, the result is an ergonomic experience that adapts to a wide spectrum of users with minimal effort.
Upah had to capture delaoliva’s tradition of offering multiple versions, components and finishes to match the needs of each project. The chair can be customised through its arms, bases, mechanisms, headrest and upholstery options, allowing it to transition naturally between spaces. Its design supports the flexible rhythms of hybrid work while retaining a clean, recognisable identity. Upah is a chair that embodies Delaoliva’s evolution and reflects the commitment shared between the brand and our studio: to design products that improve the experience of work and endure meaningfully over time.
When we designed Upah, we wanted to create more than just a task chair, we wanted a flagship piece that could express Delaoliva’s evolution. Inspired by the balance of nature, we shaped a chair that feels warm, inclusive and instantly recognisable, combining ergonomic innovation with a deep commitment to sustainabilityAlegre Design
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