Ergonomics Everywhere: Humanscale’s Melbourne & Sydney Events with Professor Alan Hedge and Yellowtrace.

Humanscale’s thought leadership event in Sydney was hosted at Grana Privato in Hinchcliff House.

Both Sydney dinner and Melbourne breakfast events were attended by interior designers, architects, and forward-thinking clients from across Australia who gathered to explore the evolving landscape of workplace ergonomics.

The events centred around “Optimising Comfort & Productivity: Ergonomics in the Modern Workplace,” a compelling keynote presentation by Professor Alan Hedge.

Professor Alan Hedge – the guest of honour at the events.

Yellowtrace Founder & Editor Dana Tomić Hughes unpacked Professor Hedge’s keynote presentations through moderated discussions that contextualised his insights for the local design audience.

The world’s preeminent ergonomics expert, Alan Hedge, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Human Centred Design at Cornell University, kicked off the Australian leg of his international speaking tour this February. The events were facilitated by Humanscale, bringing Dr. Hedge’s independent insights to an international audience.

Starting with an intimate breakfast at Melbourne Place Hotel, followed by a larger dinner gathering at Grana Privato in Hinchcliff House, Sydney, Yellowtrace Founder & Editor Dana Tomić Hughes hosted both events, where architects, designers, and forward-thinking clients from across Australia gathered to explore the evolving landscape of workplace ergonomics.

The events centred around “Optimising Comfort & Productivity: Ergonomics in the Modern Workplace.” Professor Hedge delivered compelling keynote presentations, which Dana unpacked through moderated discussions that contextualised his insights for the local design audience. Together, they explored how our dramatically shifting work patterns demand smarter ergonomic solutions across multiple environments, from home setups to traditional offices and social spaces. With professionals now frequently bouncing between work settings, the risks associated with poor posture and prolonged sitting have never been more relevant.

Professor Hedge’s expertise extends far beyond academia—as “the world’s preeminent ergonomics expert” and “the most frequently cited ergonomist in the media”—his work has shaped NASA’s workspace design for astronauts, ergonomic strategies for Fortune 500 companies, and influenced global policymakers. His insights, which were featured in the BBC, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and TIME magazine, bring over 30 years of professional experience to the conversation.

This Yellowtrace Promotion is supported by Humanscale. Like everything we do, our partner content is carefully curated to maintain the utmost relevance to our audience. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Yellowtrace.

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Todd Bracher on Making a Positive Global Impact Through Design at Scale.

Visionary, science-obsessed American designer Todd Bracher and Yellowtrace founder & editor met via a video link from New York in front of a live audience in Melbourne for an illuminating conversation at the nexus of science, art and design.

One of the most memorable takeaways was the economic argument for ergonomics. Beyond the obvious health benefits, implementing proper ergonomic solutions translates directly to increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and lower healthcare costs. It’s a win-win situation that savvy organisations and designers simply can’t ignore.

Humanscale, long recognised for setting industry standards in human-centred design, showcased several standout products during the events. Their iconic Freedom Headrest chair remains a masterclass in responsive seating, while the Liberty Ocean chair, made from nearly 2 kg of reclaimed fishing nets, perfectly embodies their commitment to sustainability. The innovative Sedeo stool offers a more dynamic sitting experience for quick collaborations. The sleek Trea chair features a clever auto-recline mechanism, and the Float Mini provides a compact, ergonomic solution designed for both home and work environments.

The Australian leg of the international tour successfully reinforced Humanscale’s position as the global leader in ergonomics within the workplace furniture category, with products that set industry standards in human-centred design and innovation. This initiative, featuring Professor Hedge’s independent expertise alongside Yellowtrace’s design authority, aimed to bring ergonomics back to the forefront of workplace strategy after COVID, where it had become a lower priority in design considerations.

By facilitating this tour rather than shaping its narrative, Humanscale demonstrates its commitment to science-based ergonomic principles that prioritise both human well-being and environmental responsibility, creating solutions that adapt to how we actually work today—whether at home, in traditional offices, or anywhere in between.

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The Chair That Changed Everything: Humanscale Freedom Turns 25.

When less than 2% of people know how to operate their office chairs, something needs to change. The Humanscale Freedom chair did exactly that, pioneering self-adjusting seating that responds naturally to every body.

Professor Alan Hedge in Melbourne.

Melbourne breakfast event for the local design community (with a few key interstate guests in attendance) was held at the newly opened Melbourne Place Hotel.

Professor Alan Hedge and Dana Tomić Hughes at Melbourne Place.

[Images courtesy of Humanscale.]