COGNETIC TECHNOLOGY™ REIMAGINES THE PHYSICS OF THE SITTING BODY
With the introduction of Cognetic Technology™, a patented seating innovation invented by Aaron DeJule and KIhis example office it’s a living room is undergoing the most significant change in recent decades. Using a gravity-powered 3D orbital motion, the technology responds to the body’s natural micro-movements instead of forcing the user to navigate through settings and levers to manage comfort. In addition, technology allows a departure from the traditional chairs that only tilt back and forth, side to side, and up and down, in patterns that follow the body’s center of gravity in every direction. This departure from traditional ergonomics ensures that the chair is always in balance with the user, eliminating the physical and cognitive friction of sitting still while encouraging a state of constant alignment and flow.
KI presents Cognetic Technology™ | all images courtesy of TO
A CREATIVE DRIVER IN CHICAGO’S FULTON MARKET
As a major force in the contract furniture industry, the American manufacturer is known for its human-centered design philosophy and decades of research on how movement affects performance in workplaces and schools. This legacy finds a new home at the KI Inspiration Center flagship in the heart of Chicago’s Fulton Market. The space was designed by Whitney Architectsserving as a creative engine that reflects the company’s focus on the intersection of comfort, focus and performance.
KI’s Inspiration Center in the heart of Chicago’s Fulton Market
Cognetic Technology debuts the Kiaura collection at Design Days
The genesis of Cognetic Technology™ is rooted in the personal experience of designer Aaron DeJule, who sought a solution to chronic pain after a transformative car accident. After years of prototyping, DeJule realized that the seat should move naturally with the human form rather than requiring the body to conform to a rigid chair. This movement-based performance philosophy aligns with KI’s long history of dynamic design, which includes previous milestones such as the Ruckus, Sway and Cogni collections.
To showcase the weightless feel of the technology, KI introduced the ‘Flow Chamber’ installation. The temporary experience invited participants to engage with movement in a more intuitive and human-centered way, translating subtle seated movement into a feeling often described as light, balanced, and unexpectedly calming. Many participants described the sensation as “clouding,” noting a reduction in physical and mental tension typically associated with prolonged sitting. Activation reinforced a key insight behind Cognitive Technology: motion does not distract from focus, but contributes significantly to comfort, engagement, and cognitive flow.
CF flow chamber
Debuting during Design Days in Chicago, the Kiaura collection™designed by Aaron DeJule, it serves as the first commercial expression of Cognitive Technology™. The complete suite of office, conference and lounge seating responds to subtle changes in the body, addressing movement as a fundamental requirement for designing seating solutions. Incorporating 3D movement into various typologies — from the focused work environment to the relaxed living room — the Kiaura collection meets the evolving needs of designers looking to create high-performance spaces. Ultimately, the collaboration suggests that the future of seating lies not in more customization, but in the effortless freedom of never having to sit still.
