2012 Galleries

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Galleries // 2012 Spark:Product // Diffrient Smart™ Task Chair

Diffrient Smart™ Task Chair

Winner - Silver

Competition: Spark:Product
Designer: Niels Diffrient, Shea + Latone, Inc., Humanscale Design Studio
Design Type: Furniture
Website: http://www.humanscale.com

Diffrient Smart chair combines Humanscale’s signature weight-sensitive recline, Form-Sensing Mesh Technology and ultimate ease of use in a simple, U-shaped frame. With its distinctive lines, Diffrient Smart delivers a clean, timeless aesthetic in a task chair that prioritizes simplicity and performance. Designed by the legendary Niels Diffrient, Diffrient Smart takes its performance cues from some of the renowned designer’s other award-winning Humanscale creations. Like Liberty and Freedom, for example, Diffrient Smart features Humanscale’s patented weight-sensitive recline mechanism that automatically adjusts to the body weight of each sitter to provide perfect recline support every time someone sits in the chair—without the need for training, instructions or even manual adjustments. For even greater ergonomic comfort, Diffrient Smart features Humanscale’s revolutionary Form-Sensing Mesh Technology backrest, which was first manifested in the Liberty chair. Just like a tailored shirt, Diffrient Smart’s tri-panel, non-stretch mesh backrest fits the three-dimensional form of the human body to provide custom lumbar support for users without having to make any adjustments manually. Ingeniously designed to fluidly accommodate the human body through a range of motion, Diffrient Smart’s armrests are attached to the backrest—not the seat pan—to move with the body as the user reclines, ensuring complete upper body support throughout the day. In addition, Diffrient Smart features optional high-performance armrests that move forward, back, in and out to best accommodate the physical needs and preferences of every user. Diffrient Smart is also an elegant embodiment of Humanscale’s well-known commitment to environmental sustainability. Made predominantly of recycled die-cast aluminum, Diffrient Smart is lighter in weight and made from significantly fewer parts than most traditionally designed chairs, so fewer materials and manufacturing processes are used in its production. As such, Diffrient Smart can contribute toward the achievement of valuable LEED credits.