Have you ever thought about how the way you sit can affect your health, your focus, even your mood?
Have you ever thought about how the way you sit can affect your health, your focus, even your mood? Gioia has. And from that awareness — shaped by a deeply personal experience — her school project was born: a practical, meaningful idea that grew out of physical discomfort and turned into something useful for many.
Gioia is a student in MYP 5 at H-Farm, and four years ago, she was diagnosed with a 4-degree lumbar scoliosis. A seemingly mild curve, but enough to impact her posture and cause daily discomfort, especially during the many hours spent sitting at school. “I often notice my posture reflected in shop windows,” she says, “and every time, I feel uncomfortable. Even if I try to correct it, after a while it starts to hurt.”
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That discomfort sparked the idea for her Personal Project: to design an ergonomic kneeling chair that encourages active sitting and properly supports the back, particularly during long periods of studying or working.
“The most rewarding part,” she says enthusiastically, “was seeing the chair take shape — 3D-printed — after designing it with Shapr3D, a software I’ve been using for a year in my product design classes.”
Gioia’s chair is more than a functional object — it’s the result of a personal journey, a real need, and a vision for the future.
Gioia, MYP Student
“I’d love to work in design one day, maybe as a product or interior designer. This project gave me a real sense of what it means to create something from scratch.”
And she doesn’t plan to stop here. Gioia already imagines different versions of her ergonomic chair — models tailored for various environments, needs, and age groups. Because wellbeing often starts with small things — like a chair that helps us sit better, and live better.
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