Herman-Miller Aeron

What can you say about a product that is considered an icon of modern industrial design? The Herman-Miller Aeron is an office chair that is so much more than an office chair. It was a symbol for the boom-and-bust dotcom insanity of the late-1990s when venture capitalfunded dotcoms spent over $2,000 on the chair as inducements to employees only because Aeron was seen as 'cool'.

But unlike scores of the dotcoms of the time, the Aeron survived and will celebrate its 16th birthday this year. Last year, the chair made it to the permanent collection at New York's famed Museum of Modern Art. But while it isn't new, the Aeron still sets standards for support to both the lower (lumbar) and middle (sacral) parts of your spinal column and gives unprecedented ergonomic support.

And while prices have fallen as tens of copycat products invade the market, a new Aeron would still set you back upwards of $800. And it is still cool.