Image via StandDesk Kickstarter
The large, comfortable rolling chair has become an icon of the workplace, while for some, it remains the symbol for dozing off. But some health-minded office workers are ditching the chair in favor of standing, with studies showing the negative long-term effects of sitting too much, which can increase the chance of heart failure.
These “standing desks” are slowly but surely creeping into some office spaces, and if the Kickstarter campaign for Asian American entrepreneur Steven Yu’s StandDesk means anything, the demand is only rising: the product flew past its original $50,000 goal on Kickstarter within 38 minutes, and with 43 days to go, it has received over $207,000 in pledges.
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Lingering back issues from a motorcycle accident years ago got the 31-year-old Yu to start thinking of a healthy, natural solution to alleviating the pain and strengthening his back. His doctor told him to stand more often—a tall order for an office worker—but Yu was sick of taking pain medication. After seeing the short list of expensive and inconvenient models of standing desks available, Yu set out to make his own version, one that was simplified to cut costs without sacrificing quality.
The result is an aesthetically pleasing, basic table with an automated control system to control the height (two-button control for the base model; memory control with four preset options on the deluxe model). The table can bear up to 225 pounds, and buyers can even choose from a laminate or natural bamboo desk surface.
The success of Yu’s Kickstarter also points to the lack of affordable standing desks available. While some videos online show how one can make a standing desk for $28 out of a few Ikea furniture pieces, automated adjustable tables often run upwards of $1,000. Not yet available for retail, Yu’s StandDesk will begin at $399 with the lowest pledge, with options going up to $649.
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