Can seating work with your body? KI’s Cognetic Technology proves it can. Try it at Design Days.

Workplace health and wellness conversations have increasingly turned to how the body moves — or doesn’t — throughout the workday. As work becomes more screen-based, the amount of time people spend sitting has increased. Yet despite decades of progress in ergonomics, most seating still asks the body to remain largely static, relying on adjustments and mechanisms to manage discomfort rather than addressing its root cause.

Contract furniture manufacturer KI believes it’s time to rethink that approach. Facility managers and ergonomists think so, too.

KI is introducing Cognetic Technology — a breakthrough patented design and a fundamentally different way of thinking about how seating works with the body. Rather than asking people to sit still or constantly adjust, the technology responds naturally to the body in motion. What that means is best experienced, not explained. Instead of managing discomfort, Cognetic Technology is designed to work in harmony with the body’s natural movement, creating a sense of balance that feels intuitive and effortless. “In studies we’ve done so far, users experience a 30% reduction in anxiety,” says Angela Allen, director of product marketing for KI. “They also have improved cognitive performance doing seated work. The movement allows fewer pressure points on the body.”

“Our bodies are not meant to stay completely still for hours at a time,” said Tony Besasie, chief sales and marketing officer at KI. “Cognetic Technology enables motion through natural micro-movements while seated, helping create a more comfortable and balanced experience that’s better aligned with how the body actually works.”

The idea behind Cognetic Technology began with designer Aaron DeJule, whose perspective on seating changed after a serious car accident made sitting for long periods difficult. Traditional chairs, despite their adjustments, offered little relief.

That experience led to a simple but powerful question: What if seating worked with the body instead of asking the body to adapt?

Years of exploration followed, until a quiet moment of observation revealed something unexpected: Natural, subtle movement, happening almost unconsciously, was the key. That insight became the foundation for what would eventually become Cognetic Technology.

Further, facility manager user groups responded positively to the chairs’ ability to improve cognition and productivity, according to Allen. “Cognetic Technology allows you to have a single chair that accommodates different body types. It is a premium price point, but it comes with a lifetime warranty and meets all the BIFMA requirements. Those are both important to facility mangers.”

Design Days debut of Cognetic Technology

During Chicago’s Fulton Market Design Days, June 8-10, 2026, KI will feature Cognetic Technology with a unique installation inside KI’s new Inspiration Center. Visitors will experience an environment created to heighten awareness of movement, balance, and how the body naturally wants to sit. “What we’re introducing isn’t a new chair,” said Besasie. “It’s a fundamentally different approach to how seating moves with the body. And it’s something people really need to feel for themselves.”

For KI, this moment represents the beginning of a new platform, one that rethinks how seating supports the body, focus, and performance over time. “This is the kind of shift that changes how you think about sitting,” Besasie said. “We’re using gravity and kinesiology to create a one-of-a-kind experience that is more comfortable and delightful.”

For more information, visit KI Fulton Market Design Days.

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