Ergonomic Optimization Design Research of Campus Seating

Campus seating is a core piece of furniture that covers all scenarios, including teaching, self-study, and relaxation. Its design directly affects the physical and mental health as well as learning efficiency of students and faculty. Addressing common shortcomings in current campus chairs—such as mismatched dimensions, body mechanics-unfriendly shapes, and musculoskeletal fatigue caused by prolonged use—this study takes human factors engineering as its theoretical foundation, relying on anthropometric data and principles of sitting biomechanics to analyze chair usage and human factors issues across three typical campus settings: classrooms, libraries, and public areas. It proposes an optimized design framework comprising four key aspects: standardized functional dimensions, biomechanically informed form and structure, scenario-based functional design, and growth-adaptive adjustment mechanisms. Using library reading chairs in universities as a case study, the design was implemented and evaluated through both subjective assessments and objective experiments to verify comfort and health benefits. Results show that incorporating ergonomic features such as curved desktops, adjustable lumbar support, and pressure-distributing seat surfaces significantly reduces neck and lower back strain during prolonged sitting, improves pressure distribution across the body, and increases overall comfort by over 40%. This research provides both theoretical guidance and practical pathways for enhancing the human-centered and health-oriented design of campus furniture.

Keywords: campus seating, human factors engineering, sitting posture health, furniture design, pressure distribution, anthropometry.