Seeing What's Not There

Why couldn't a desk do that?

Designers innovate by observing how things are and mulling over what might be. That's how Envelop began. When the late Bill Stumpf and Jeff Weber were designing the Embody chair, they became acutely aware of an unsolved problem: the lack of physical harmony between us and the computers with which we spend huge chunks of our days.

They began to consider the small universe of the chair, the worksurface, and the surround. While working on their idea that a chair could have positive effects on the seated body, they began to understand that even the best task chair can't do it all and to focus on the problem of the static surface. Which led them to rethink the concept of a work desk. Why did computer users have to move their laptops, keyboards, pointing devices, and monitors manually as they tried to maintain the right position and angle?

Creating the Solution

Bill and Jeff began to see the chair and desk as a single system that could minimize musculoskeletal stress. Their aim was to create an interface between the two to accommodate the user's preferred patterns of postures and movements.

After Bill passed away, Envelop became Jeff''s project, and he was responsible for most of the work that produced the final product. It represents both a great leap forward in ergonomic design and a logical continuation of Bill and Jeff's ideas about the body in work postures that had been guiding them for years.

General Dimensions

• H:25.5-31.5"
• W:45"
• D:30.75-37"

Care & Maintenance

With regular care and maintenance, your Herman Miller product will provide many years of superior performance and satisfaction. To maintain quality, please follow the cleaning procedures outlined here.

The instructions for the care and maintenance of Herman Miller products are provided to you as a service. No warranty is implied since results may vary.

Coated Metal

For normal cleaning, wash coated metal surfaces with a soft cloth soaked in detergent and warm water; rinse thoroughly and dry. Remove scuff marks from low-gloss coatings with pre-softened paste wax, following the manufacturer's instructions. Remove scuff marks and scratches from high-gloss coatings using automotive polishing compounds, either liquid or paste. After polishing, apply a pre-softened automotive paste wax to restore original sheen. For assistance in determining the appropriate color and gloss for Herman Miller touch-up paint, contact your Herman Miller Customer Service Representative.

Plastic

For normal cleaning, wash plastic surfaces with a soft cloth soaked in mild detergent and warm water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use solvents or abrasive kitchen cleaners.

Laminates

Products using laminate may include tabletops, work surfaces, counter caps, transaction surfaces, flipper doors, and lateral files.

For normal cleaning, wash the laminate with a soft cloth and a solution of mild detergent and warm water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth.

For minor repair of burns or other stubborn marks, apply a nonabrasive liquid kitchen cleanser with a soft cloth soaked in warm water. Rub in the direction of the grain; use caution to avoid damaging the surface texture or gloss. If no grain direction is visible, rub with a light, circular motion.

Do not use powdered abrasives or other harsh cleansers like hypochlorite bleach, hydrogen peroxide, nitric or hydrochloric acids, or lye; they may deface the surface and change the finish color.

Molded Infield

For normal cleaning, wash with a soft cloth soaked in mild detergent and warm water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use solvents or abrasive kitchen cleaners.

Apply isopropyl alcohol to a clean, damp absorbent cloth. Start at the outside of the ink stain and work towards the center. Apply pressure but do not rub too vigorously. It is important as the cloth becomes stained, use a clean section of the dampened cloth or the stain will spread. Apply isopropyl alcohol to the cloth as needed. If ink stain persists, use acetone in place of procedure above. This procedure is not intended for normal cleaning.

Veneer

Veneer is a natural wood product, so it requires more attention than other surfaces. When veneer is properly cared for, it will last long and keep looking beautiful. Here are some tips.

Wood is very durable and requires little attention. Routine maintenance is simply regular dusting with a slightly damp, soft, lint-free cloth. Wipe dry with a dry, soft cloth in the direction of the wood grain. Spills should be immediately wiped up with a damp cloth. Once a month, clean the surface with a soft cloth dampened with a quality cleaner formulated for wood furniture. Wipe the surface in the direction of the wood grain to remove dirt and fingerprints. Wipe dry with a clean, dry cloth.

Twice a year, apply a good quality emulsion wax with a soft cloth. Emulsion wax is clear and prevents fingerprints. But don't use aerosol-powered cleaners, polishes, waxes, abrasive cleansers, or oily polishes.

Herman Miller veneers are tested to ensure they are not stained by liquids such as ink and coffee, and are unaffected or only slightly affected by prolonged contact with water. To reduce the risk of damage, take some precautions:

• - Use coasters for glasses and mugs
  
  
• - If a glass top is added to the veneer surface, be sure it rests on felt pads
  
  
• - Don't place a potted plant on a veneer surface unless it's in a water-tight container or in a drip tray
  
  
• - Don't let vinyl binders stay on a surface for very long
  
  
• - Use protective pads under equipment with "rubber" cushioning feet
  
  
• Some chemical compounds used in the feet on office equipment, such as printers and monitor stands, may leave permanent stains or marks.
  
  

Wood is susceptible to bruising and scratching from heavy office equipment, so we encourage a protective surface is placed underneath. Also, objects should be lifted instead of dragged across a surface. Protective pads should be used under items with a rough bottom, like pottery.

Denting, caused by extreme pen pressure when writing, can also damage veneer. Use desk pads or some other protection where a lot of paperwork is done. Sunlight can damage veneer as well, so veneer surfaces should not be in direct sunlight. To help a surface age evenly, users can periodically move items on their desks so that the entire surface is exposed to an even amount of light over time.

In addition to light, extremely high or low humidity is a damaging environmental factor. Herman Miller suggests maintaining a relative humidity of 35-65 percent. PLEASE NOTE: Before specifying veneer for furniture, determine the kind of use it will receive.

If the veneer is going to receive a lot of heavy use and damage to veneer is likely, it may be best to use laminate instead.