I am tired of trying to explain to certain conservative members of my family that beauty affects learning. Thankfully, Knoll gets the point across succinctly: "Space matters," the company explains-"it is a key factor in attracting and retaining both students and faculty." This is not groundbreaking news. As early as 1948, Eero Saarinen was trying to develop a chair that cocooned the user, providing a feeling of security. Which is how the Womb Chair was born.

Now being revived as a great option for educational settings, Saarinen's Womb Chair is appearing in libraries and student unions across the country (and the globe). And why not? The chair came about when Saarinen tried to achieve comfort through shape (instead of cushioning). The result is a welcoming chair that gives the user a sense of security. Its shape also supports multiple sitting positions, which we finally know is a good idea-the days of "sitting still" are over.

Great news for students. Now, if universities and schools could just get the Womb Chair into faculty lounges and offices, we'd finally be liberating liberal education.

See other mid-century classics at work in educational spaces at www.Knoll.com.