The Story Behind the Neseda Project
How and why the neseda project was created
In the beginning was an idea…
More precisely – a sketch drawn on paper, followed by the call to materialize it.
July 2015
Early drawings
From sketches, through the development phase, to the end product in two years. This is the story of the Neseda project, which started with this article in which Vlado Zlatoš tried to clarify why we need to actively introduce the movement culture into the work environment in which we spend countless hours…
Vlado Zlatoš shared his ideas about the Neseda Chair with Mišo Truban who was intensively training for triathlon competitions. At that time, his physiotherapist told him that his back does not hurt from hard training, but from sitting on his bum all day. The idea caught his attention and kicked off some serious cooperation on the Neseda project.
October 2015
Early 0.1 and 0.2 prototypes
When developing the product, we paid attention to the basic principles that defined our requirements on the product. The basic postulate was the possibility to alternate several (non)sitting positions and adapt the chair design to this very requirement. The first functional prototypes fulfilled this requirement of functionality, but they were not necessarily aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. In fact, they looked quite horrible…
In the photo, we’re having a hard time with how our prototypes look. Having a good idea is fine, but making it look good is a whole other thing. We couldn’t place the product on the market without giving a thoughtful consideration to its design…
January 2016
Involvement of the WERKEMOTION Design Studio
Bystrík Miček and Míla Melichárek were the two creative souls from this renowned studio who gave the Neseda Chair its current shape.
They helped supervise the technical preparation of the project for mass production – because every detail matters.
May 2016
Prototype 1.0
Vlado Zlatoš and his partners are finalizing the endless design changes so that the product can be manufactured in the conditions available to Neseda.
Each step, modification and adjustment affects the 10 next and 10 previous steps. Only those who created similar products fully understand how interesting and challenging this development and production process is.
March 2017
Final design
The determination of the final design was preceded by a series of changes where every inaccuracy translates into slower progress. We were naive in thinking that we would pull it off in just a few months, and we sobered up almost immediately. We simply had to.
The most beautiful thing about the creation process is self-fulfillment. If not for self-fulfillment, the despair and suffering from this arduous process would surely outweigh the enthusiasm and determination at the inception of the idea. However, only what has been finalized ultimately counts. Therefore, quitting was not an option.
April 2017
Launch of mass production
This historic milestone took us two long years of hard work. The photo shows Vlado Zlatoš with the first serially produced Neseda Chair (the first batch of 100 pieces).
If only we knew what this endeavor would ultimately entail in terms of logistics, suppliers, technical issues, marketing, financial, legislative or legal hurdles. Every time you come up with a project, it essentially shapes you. You become the kind of person driven by the challenges you’ve set for yourself.
April 2017
Studio photoshoot
Seeing the results of your work and their public presentation and promotion is another fascinating process. Since the Neseda project differed greatly from other ordinary projects, it had one fundamental flaw.
It was necessary to explain and educate the people about why the chair looks the way it does. For example, why there are no armrests? Why should I alternate my sitting positions? And that’s just the beginning of the challenge. Before delivering our product physically, we had to deliver it intellectually. That means to educate people. Yet again, new lessons in a project that’s getting more and more complex by the month…
May 2017
Launch of pre-sales
At that time, the seats were already available in various colors, but we only provided one type of backrest (black laminate). With the passage of time, other backrest options were added. Specifically, those from milled solid wood (especially oak).
Many people objected that the price of our product is exorbitant. Since we are no manufacturing company with own workshops, workers, machines and other equipment, we had to source our production in different parts of Slovakia. However, this means that the cost of producing our product is high, and the room for margin is relatively low. And we didn’t even know at that time that we would have to eventually raise the price of our product to survive economically and keep the project afloat…
December 2019
Development of the “Standard” Chair
It took us about three years to sell the first 1000 pieces of Neseda. During that time, we understood the nature and complexity of the project, and collected the observations of our customers and physio experts. Some of these observations were incorporated into the Standard version of the chair. For example, the central part of the seat cushion is completely free and unobstructed for people with various types of health issues (coccyx, hemorrhoids, etc.).
The design is simpler, and the choice of colors (black/anthracite) is more modest. However, the upholstery materials are of the same quality as in the Premium chair. The chair has a simplified backrest made of beautiful double-bent plywood.
February 2020
Development of the “Deluxe” Chair
The Deluxe chair is a carbon copy of the Premium chair. The only difference is in the materials; the shape and functions are the same. The massive backrest made of walnut or cherry wood is supplemented by Alcantara upholstery, which we consider to be one of the most beautiful materials in the world. The contrast stitching (walnut = blue, cherry = orange) increases the visual beauty of the Deluxe versions of the Neseda Chair.
The Neseda Deluxe chairs are our dream come true – inspired by the automotive sector. Such a beautifully crafted chair is ideal for those who want to make an impression with everything they have and do.
March 2020
Development of a new product: the Neseda Kneeling Chair
Our innovation does not end with chairs. While the Neseda chair tackles active sitting, we also looked at the challenges associated with active standing. Again, using the same approach and basic principles, we wanted to figure out how to bring a person’s head to the standing height and allow them to alternate between the different sitting and standing positions.
A workable design was crafted through dozens of iterations and dead ends. For more information about the whole story behind the Neseda Kneeling Chair, click HERE. It started as a “church” pew, followed by a stationary bicycle, and gradually through various iterations and experiments we managed to find the optimum shape, design and function.
February 2020
Mass production of the Neseda Kneeling Chair
Even the kneeling chairs took us no less than two years to develop. Product development is demanding especially if all the elements of mass production are to be fine-tuned – ranging from technical documentation, through materials, processing, production pricing and margins, logistics, packaging, manuals, to e-shops and all other possible and impossible things. But that’s exactly what we enjoy. Innovation, creativity and self-fulfillment.
However, getting to this point is only the beginning. Establishing a product on the market, educating about its advantages and delivering it in the required quality is a long-term challenge. However, we managed to develop two types of kneelers at the same time: KOMFORT and MINI.
December 2022
New products: Movement Cowork and Movement Kit
We have put together our unique products: a chair and a kneeling chair. Plus, we added the Neseda Desk and our Movement Kit for movement at work (gymnastic rings, exercise stick and caliper for measuring subcutaneous fat).
Even the Neseda Desk is noteworthy. In addition to the electric motor and memory settings for different selectable heights, it comes with a timer that reminds you to change the sitting or standing position.
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