Humanscale Freedom Task Chair

Please note: This chair is custom-made and non-returnable. All fabric colors shown on your computer screen are approximate, based on the resolution of your monitor and subject to variation from the actual color on physical chairs. For more accurate ideas of color tones, etc. please contact [email protected] or call 888-456-ERGO to obtain a sample or fabric swatch.

Description

Described by The New York Times as "the gold standard in office seating," the Freedom chair redefines the concept of traditional task chairs. Designer Niels Diffrient aimed to design an office chair that automatically adapts to the user, allowing them to move freely from posture to posture. Diffrient’s unique approach removed complexities found in other chairs, such as cumbersome recline levers and back tension dials for a truly ergonomic task chair. As a result, he developed a recline mechanism that perfectly adjusts to the user, definitively reinventing modern task seating to be truly simple, functional and beautiful.

With innovative recline that provides constant support and a pivoting backrest that automatically adjusts to the needs of the spine, the Freedom chair is exceptionally comfortable and promotes movement throughout the day. Its refined and sculpted cushions were designed to mimic the body’s natural contours and decrease pressure point loads for premium comfort. Like all Humanscale chairs, the Freedom chair was designed to look and function like new after years of consistent use.

Designed to complement any space and integrate effortlessly into the modern office, the Freedom task chair offers comfort, style and complete ease of use. Created by Niels Diffrient and winner of more than 10 design awards, the Freedom task chair uses the laws of physics and the sitter’s body weight to provide instant, custom support for every sitter. This perfect balance allows the user to effortlessly move, but be fully supported in each position. As a result, users change postures often, which leads to a more healthy and comfortable sitting experience.

The Freedom task chair revolutionizes the way people sit. With its weight-sensitive recline and synchronously adjustable armrests, it set new standards for task chair performance and functionality. With a sculpted foam backrest to match the contours of the human body and thick cushions for long lasting comfort, it provides a custom ergonomic fit for every user.

A true design icon, the Freedom chair proves that ergonomics can be beautiful. Created by Niels Diffrient, Freedom automatically adjusts to every user. Designed to eliminate the need for manual controls, it features a sophisticated weight-sensitive, self-locking recline mechanism. And its unique form has a timeless aesthetic that complements any workspace.

Technical Drawing

Specifications

Features

Available in two versions, the everyday Freedom Task and the executive Freedom Headrest, each chair includes the following features:

• Distinctive design sets it apart from other task chairs and enhances any space

• Innovative weight-sensitive, self-locking recline mechanism cleverly uses each sitter’s body weight to perfectly adjust the tension and recline position of the chair for full support throughout movement

• Pivoting backrest automatically moves with the user throughout the day and offers perfect lumbar comfort in all positions

• Synchronous arms allow effortless adjustment with one hand and our unique arm design attaches to the backrest to move with the user

• Contoured cushions are sculpted to closely follow the body’s shape and offer long-term comfort, reduce pressure points and provide exceptional weight distribution

• Modular design allows the user to update the aesthetic of the chair and offers easy maintenance

• A wide range of specifically created, high-performance textiles complement the chair’s unique cushion contours to maximize their comfort, performance and ergonomic function

• The Freedom Headrest features a dynamic support that cradles the head and neck during recline, but remains neutral when in upright positions

• Articulating Headrest - The Freedom chair features a dynamic, articulating headrest to support the head and neck as users recline. It moves with the sitter, so they can change postures without making manual adjustments and stay comfortable in any position.

• Self Adjusting Recline - Freedom eliminates the need for traditional recline mechanisms, which can be bulky and weigh up to 15 pounds. Instead, Freedom uses the sitter’s body weight and the laws of physics to perfectly and automatically adjust recline support for each individual.

• Synchronous Armrests - Freedom's body-friendly armrests move up and down together, staying with the user during recline for continuous comfort and support. Unlike other chair designs, Freedom's armrests are attached to the back of the chair to ensure synchronous use.

• Long Lasting Comfort - Freedom’s body-fitting contours ensure the user sits in comfort all day long. Our cushions are built to maximize comfort for four hours, rather than the industry standard four minutes, which is as long as a sit-test in a new chair generally lasts.

• Effortless Recline - Freedom’s intelligent recline mechanism automatically provides custom support for every user, and encourages healthy, spontaneous movement throughout the day. Without cumbersome knobs or levers, and with no manual adjustments, Freedom task makes active sitting effortless.

• Intuitive Adjustment - The revolutionary design of the Freedom’s backrest allows automatic pivoting to accommodate the changing needs of the spine. Its synchronous armrests stay with the user during recline, for constant support and ongoing comfort.

Designer

Niels Diffrient - Niels Diffrient's designs are grounded in the philosophy that form follows function. His work has spanned generations, consistently looking past trends to reinvent the tools we use for daily living.

With an academic foundation in design and architecture and a degree from Cranbrook Academy, Diffrient channels his knowledge of engineering, architecture, and human factors into the creation of highly functional and aesthetically timeless designs.

From his early work with the studios of Eero Saarinen, Marco Zanuso, and Henry Dreyfuss to his current work with Humanscale, Diffrient's visionary talent has been widely recognized. Included among his many honors are the 2002 National Design Award from the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, and the 1999 Chrysler Design Award. In recent years, Diffrient had focused his energies on designs for the office environment, particularly seating - a category in which he has pioneered numerous breakthroughs, from pneumatic cylinders for seat height adjustment to weight-activated automatic recline.

As the pioneer of ergonomics, Niels Diffrient aimed to redefine the concept of the traditional task chair and instead design seating solutions that efficiently adapt to users, allowing them to move freely from posture to posture. Diffrient’s unique approach removed complexities found in other chairs, such as cumbersome recline levers and back tension dials. He realized that movement during recline took pressure off the user’s body, and transferred it to the back of the chair. As a result, he developed the weight-sensitive, self-locking recline mechanism, definitively reinventing the features of modern task seating to be truly simple, beautiful and functional.

Design Story

With the airplane you learn a lot about how to deal with the air, for a chair you have to learn a lot about how to deal with the body, and what the body needs, wants, indicates it needs. And that's the way, ultimately after some ups and downs, I ended up designing [Freedom]." - Niels Diffrient, Designer

Inspired to create a revolutionary office chair that adjusted automatically to whoever sat in it, Niels Diffrient designed the Freedom chair. Diffrient had always had a passion for aviation, growing up drawing and building model planes. In his 2002 TED talk, in which he shared the processes behind the design of Freedom, he explained how the disciplines connected.

"My idea was that, instead of sitting down and reaching for a lot of controls, that you would sit on the chair, and it would automatically balance your weight against the force required to recline." - Niels Diffrient, Designer

Eager to create a truly ergonomic task chair that adjusted to the user automatically, Niels Diffrient created Freedom, which allows the sitter to change postures effortlessly. Replacing the traditional recline mechanism with a weight-sensitive one, Diffrient’s Freedom task chair revolutionized the way people sit.

The Freedom Chair and the Environment

Like all Humanscale products, the Freedom chair was designed with a constant and genuine focus on its environmental impact at every stage of its development. For us, the best designs in the world achieve more with less, and sustainability is the natural result of this focus.

The Freedom chair’s lightweight design minimizes the environmental impact of its shipping, and its simple, modular design makes it easy to disassemble, recycle and maintain rather than replace the chair completely. The Freedom chair is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality, GREENGUARD Gold and level 2 certified.