Eame Lounge Chair and Aeron Chair

Core77 recently posted two videos on the assembly of the classic Eames Lounge chair in 1960 and the modern day assembly of the Aeron chair.

Click here to see the Eames Lounge chair video

Click here to see the Aeron assembly

These videos are interesting, but after first seeing the Eames Lounge chair video then seeing the Aeron chair video, I couldn't help but think of some of the raw basic principles of design, specifically, the idea of simplicity being a hallmark of good design. The Eames chair was so simple to assemble, and it still served the job keeping someone butt a specific distance off the ground. The Aeron chair had such a high level of complexity that I had to ask myself, "is this appropriate and needed?" I fully understand that the Aeron chair has a million little gizmos and adjustments built in, but is it necessary? I'm not sure really, just pondering the thought.