Vitra ACX chairs: Citterio’s curved neck support for the desk

Antonio Citterio has spent his career observing how bodies move through space, a discipline most evident in the chairs he designs. The new ACX Softknit High and ACX Pad High for Vitra begin with a single architectural move: a curved neck support that catches the back of the head and redirects the strain that accumulates silently through hours at a desk.

Antonio Citterio’s new ACX Softknit High and ACX Pad High for Vitra solve a single anatomical problem with one structural move: a curved neck support that rises from the backrest to steady the cervical spine and redirect strain away from the shoulders during hours at a desk.

The insight is direct. Most office chairs concentrate support at the lower spine; Citterio’s observation placed the pressure point elsewhere. The neck support rises 130mm above conventional backrest height, shaped to cradle the back of the head without constraining it. By shifting load from the shoulder girdle into the chair’s structure, the design addresses a tension point that conventional workplace seating overlooks entirely.

The two versions diverge in material. The ACX Softknit High wraps its frame in a knitted textile that yields to the body, its surface responsive to movement. The ACX Pad High layers cushioning over a firmer structure, offering resistance for those who prefer definition. Both come in charcoal, warm grey, cream and soft yellow, mounted on white or polished aluminium five star bases.

Citterio, an Italian architect based in Milan, has designed for Vitra since the 1990s. His practice has always centred on how bodies inhabit spaces over time, translating observation into structural solutions. With the ACX chairs, he applied that discipline to a specific working posture: the hours of seated attention that accumulate strain in the neck and shoulders. The curved support is his answer to what constant focus demands of the body.

Antonio Citterio designed the ACX chairs for Vitra, the Swiss furniture manufacturer founded in 1950. Citterio, an Italian architect and designer based in Milan, has created furniture for Vitra since the 1990s, including the Vitra Alcove sofa and the Herman Miller Eames-inspired pieces that established his reputation for ergonomic refinement. His work centres on how bodies inhabit spaces over time, translating observation into structural solutions that address fatigue rather than merely accommodate it.

The ACX collection expands Vitra’s office seating range, which includes the classic Eames Aluminium Group Chair and the contemporary ID Trim. The two new models, ACX Softknit High and ACX Pad High, join Vitra’s commitment to merging industrial design with workplace wellness. Both chairs feature a five star base in white or polished aluminium and adjustable height mechanisms standard to task seating. The Softknit version uses a breathable knit textile across its backrest and seat; the Pad version applies layered cushioning. Each model is available in a range of neutral finishes including charcoal, warm grey, cream and soft yellow.

The neck support innovation distinguishes the ACX from conventional office chairs, which typically concentrate support at the lumbar spine. Citterio’s curved support rises 130mm above the conventional backrest height, positioned to cradle the cervical spine and distribute the weight of the head away from the shoulder girdle. This shift in load bearing reduces the muscular tension that accumulates during prolonged seated work, addressing a physiological point that most workplace seating overlooks entirely.

Vitra manufactures the ACX chairs at its factories in Germany and Switzerland, where the company maintains its design and production standards established across seven decades. The chairs are available through Vitra’s network of authorised dealers and direct from vitra.com. Pricing and delivery vary by region and customisation options; full specifications are confirmed on the Vitra website and through its showrooms in major cities including London, Berlin, New York and Tokyo.

Vitra manufactures the ACX chairs at its factories in Germany and Switzerland. Both models are available through vitra.com and authorised dealers worldwide, with pricing and delivery varying by region and customisation. Full specifications are confirmed on the Vitra website and in its showrooms in London, Berlin, New York and Tokyo.