Saarinen executive arm chair or upholstered Eames shell?  

No, I'm just asking a question...
Obviously, comfort is its lure. But what makes it modern? The fact that Herman Miller produces it? It doesn't stand out from any other no name office chair aesthetically. And there are other ergonomic task chairs out there.

Please don't think I'm grilling you, barry.
There are many who adore the chair. Many modernists at that. I've just always wondered why it's so preferred to the Eames Time Life, Soft Pad or Group task chairs. Those three are much more pleasing to the eye. And while not as ergonomic, all three are more comfortable to me. And I also like Kartell's Spoon task chair. To each his own certainly as I seem to be well in the minority. I'm just merely trying to encourage discussion.

Function
I would guess the Aeron dovetails into Modernism because of it's maker, as well as adhering to the main principles of modern design: usability, simplicity of form, and honest use of materials.
Personally I think it's ugly and uncomfortable. But I also think the TimeLife chairs are ugly. Well, I should say of-their-times, rather than ugly.

Lunchbox...I don't know how to answer your last comment.
I take it you don't think the Aeron chair's cute, right?
Three times in the last 30 years, Herman Miller introduced an office chair like no others and each of them have won major awards, got lots of press and sold extremely well.
1 - the Equa chair
2 - the Aeron chair
3 - the Mirra chair
Even though I own a Mirra chair, I don't think it's too comfortable.
I love my original leather Equa chair with the chrome legs and my Aeron chair, which sits in front of the computer. I bought the wishbone-shaped posture fit feature and it makes for a comfortable chair. It's easy to keep clean too.
Certainly the first 2 chairs were revolutionary and I know the Equa made it's world premiere at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and I believe the Museum of Modern Art in New York has featured the Aeron chair.
Anyhow, I like two of the three for comfort, that's all.

That's what I'm getting at, barry.
No, none of Herman Miller's heralded three deliver on any level for me. Not only are they disturbingly ugly considering who produces them, but I've never found any of the three remotely comfortable. Rigid as hell if you ask me. Seems as if marketing and reputation have done them well. I just don't see the fascination.
And Lucifer, I think the Time Life may be my favorite just for its 'unness'. LOL.

It's amazing how "rigid" your opinions are, Lunch....
just because they don't do anything for you, they are definitively ugly and stupid. You do not taken into account that many, many people think they're swell.
I don't like everything, and I sometimes say so, but I usually don't get as aggressivelty negative as you do.
Have a good day.

I do take into account that...
I do take into account that the masses think they're swell. That's why I brought it up. The Herman Miller task trio are one of the few 'classics' or 'have-to-haves' I don't get. And apparently I'm not the only one as Lucifer deemed them ugly and uncomfortable as well. Puzzling that I would despise so a design so vaunted and acclaimed. That's all. No need to get personal. We're discussing chairs for goodness sake.

Yeah, Barry-- you're the one being "rigid",
and a little haughty, on the side.
Popularity and awards aren't an accurate test of good design, they're little more than secondhand opinion.
Sacred cows are all the more deserving of critical analysis, not less.

No
I'm not!
There's two different ways to say a popular style is not something you like.
For example, I don't like splayed leg chairs or tables. I think they're rather ugly. But, when anyone shows one, I don't say "they're sh*t and you're an idiot for liking them"!
What I would say, instead, if I don't personally like 'em.
This reminds of my music history teacher in my first year of college. We got friendly and he mentioned that he didn't care for Mozart, despite the worldwide historic aclaim. Did it stop him from teaching Mozart in a positive light? Not on your tintype, pilgrim!
There's too much snippy negative comments here from time to time and just remember, that we all have opinions, but most of us are not hell bent to p*ss off people just the hell of it.

I don't see where you're...
I don't see where you're coming from, barry. It's not as if I was addressing you and you alone with my comments. Pegboard mentioned the chair as well. As I said, I was merely encouraging discussion on this design as caulfield's 'sacred cow' comment sums up the subject matter I was delving into. Why is this design so acclaimed? What makes it stand out? And again, it's not as if you're the one person on the face of the earth who digs these chairs. I reckon I should've said, "Although I find these chairs both disgustingly hideous and contrarily uncomfortable in regard to public sentiment and supposed design experts who oversee awards boards and such, I think they are fine pieces of work and would like some thoughts from some of you on the phenomenon of their resounding success and why people are so willing to fork out the mad cash for them"... ???... If I dislike a design, there's no nice way to say it. And if you dislike one, I'll not be bothered if I happen to have an example in my home. There's nothing to get defensive about here.

Using the term "disgustingly hideous " is
fair ground for me to take offense.
How about "not to my liking"
You apparently don't get why I react to your statements, and I also don't think you understand why I feel the way I do.
Go ahead, and continue such graphically negative terms for those things you personally don't like.
No problem...but I can thank my lucky stars I'm being taught a class on 20th Century Modern design from you!

Come on, barry...
This is all too wifesque for an internet forum, isn't it? After all, this is where I'm supposed to get away from the wife's nagging to discuss what I feel like discussing. Can we cool it with the overreactions?

Sorry, but "wifesque" is way out of line.
So, anyone who disagrees with you get called "wifesque"? I can't imagine where you're coming from.
It's almost like a personal attack. To use your own term, I find your comments disgustingly hideous.

Oh, come on. No one is...
Oh, come on. No one is talking about mothers here. Get on with it, Barry. Lord knows I've poked fun at some designs here just as harshly. It's okay to have strong opinions, I think, unless you belittle someone in the process. I don't think LB called you an idiot, do you?

Thanks, Whitespike
for taking Lunchbox's side. I simply objected to his/her terms and it got under my skin, I reacted. It's funny that you react to my reaction, rather than the words Lunchbox used.
Oh well, no matter, really.
All of this is quite off-topic, but I thought someone might support my suggesting to Lunchbox to keep those really negative comments off the ol' forum.
I guess it's OK to say anything one wants, except when I do!!
I think 100 years from now, the Aeron chair will continue to be considered a design classic.
Now, what other examples of good design can we attack?