Where did it all start?
Although standing desks are just now enjoying a hugely increased popularity amongst office workers, they have actually been an essential item of furniture since the middle ages. As far as we can ascertain, standing desks actually date back to Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), where not only did he paint some of his most prominent masterpieces (such as the Mona Lisa) whilst working at a standing desk, he also dreamed up flying machines, parachutes, armoured cars and even the automatic crossbow firing device (pictured) behind the same desk.
Leonardo da Vinci was probably the most famous and talented inventor of his day and declared "standing whilst working help my creative juices flow freely"...he was definitely ahead of his time! He was first of many famous people that are documented as relying on standing desks to work efficiently and healthily.
Thomas Jefferson was one of the first prominent American statesmen to use a height adjustable desk. In between serving as one of the Founding Fathers, writing the Declaration of Independence and fulfilling his duties as the third President of the United States, he found the time to purchase a height adjustable standing desk from a famous Williamsburg cabinetmaker. He requested that the desk be made with six peg legs to increase stability and it boasted a flat lined writing surface that could be used for reading or drawing. The height of the desk could be adjusted with a ratchet stand.
Many of Jefferson's most famous writings originated at this workstation and maybe he should have taken out a patent for creating the first height adjustable desk.
Did standing desks help increase their productivity, creativity and efficiency? We certainly like to think so!