At IFA Berlin 2026, ARBREST launched COVE, a new ergonomic chair designed around real human movement and inclusive design principles. The debut product earned the IFA Best of Design award by emphasizing continuous support for shifting postures rather than enforcing a fixed sitting position.
- COVE won IFA Best of Design award for innovative ergonomic support.
- Chair adapts dynamically to user movements with a multi-axis chassis.
- Design focused on inclusive sizing and coordinated support features.
What happened
At IFA Berlin 2026, ARBREST introduced COVE, its first product under a new lifestyle technology brand. COVE made its global debut by winning the IFA Best of Design award, impressing visitors with demonstrations that showcased the chair's ability to accommodate dynamic movements like leaning forward, shoulder shifting, turning, and reclining. This approach challenges the conventional office furniture focus on static, predetermined sitting postures.
The COVE chair was designed with a 7-Point Fit Calibration to better match a variety of user body types, especially emphasizing female body proportions as an initial design reference, not an afterthought. This calibration includes adjustments to seat height, width, depth, lumbar support, armrests, headrest, and footrest, aiming to provide a more stable and comfortable seated experience from the outset.
Why it matters
Traditional office chairs often rely on a universal reference body and offer limited adjustments, causing many users to compensate for poorly fitting features such as seat depth and lumbar support. COVE addresses these issues by designing for real body dimensions and movement patterns, thereby reducing the need for users to constantly shift in search of comfort. This supports more natural work behaviors and can help reduce fatigue or discomfort associated with prolonged desk work.
Moreover, COVE's dynamic design philosophy—where support moves with the body rather than enforcing a single 'correct' posture—signals a shift in ergonomic thinking. It promotes inclusive design by incorporating features like a 3D winged headrest for ponytails, wide touch controls for longer nails, and a dual-tier active footrest, all reflecting everyday user needs rather than theoretical models.
What to watch next
ARBREST's COVE chair represents a first step from the brand into ergonomic furniture, with ambitions to expand beyond chairs in the future. Market adoption of this approach could influence broader office furniture design standards, especially as companies and workers increasingly prioritize comfort and inclusivity in hybrid and remote work environments.
Further developments to monitor include how COVE’s synchronized 5-Point Support system and multi-axis chassis perform in real-world settings over time, and whether this design philosophy will inspire competitors to move away from traditional static ergonomic solutions toward more adaptive furniture. The chair’s reception among diverse user groups and its integration with smart lifestyle technologies will also be key indicators of its potential success.