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The New Way to Sit
December 30, 2002
The Freedom chair, designed by renowned industrial designer Niels Diffrient and manufactured by the Humanscale Corporation, is set to capture the hearts (and seats) of a multitude of new users in 2003. Ever since its 1999 introduction to the market in prototype form, Freedom has been the darling of the architecture and design communities, has won a total of ten design awards, and has been written up in every major design publication. Humanscale entered into full production of Freedom in January 2001 and is on track to accommodate the ever-increasing demand for its high-profile product.
"Freedom may well be the simplest and ‘smartest’ chair the world has ever known," says Robert King, Humanscale’s founder and president. "It far exceeds current performance standards, making new ways of working possible." Freedom eliminates the tension and lock knobs of current-generation task chairs. In their place is an intelligent mechanism that senses the weight of the user and automatically adjusts the backrest tension to provide optimal support through the full range of recline. Synchronized armrests adjust instantly with a simple motion, and the dynamic headrest moves into place as you recline and out of the way as you sit upright. Options include a load-distributing gel seat for unmatched comfort – a first in office seating.
Says Diffrient, "Most people do not properly use their chair controls and many don’t use them at all. In fact, such controls are barriers to movement. With Freedom, we’ve minimized the necessity for manual controls and maximized the ability for natural, spontaneous movement." King adds, "When sitting for any extended period of time, comfort becomes almost synonymous with movement. Current-generation chairs require people to operate manual controls to change their seated posture, so people tend to stay in fixed postures for very long periods of time. Niels has created a design that allows people to move without restraints, and therefore, without having to think about it."
Not only is Freedom the most comfortable chair on the market, but it is also quickly becoming a visual icon: it was displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City as part of the "Workspheres" exhibit in 2001, and continues to be seen in numerous television shows and movies, including the recently released "Two Weeks Notice", "About Schmidt", and the hit TV show "24".
Freedom received the prestigious Design Distinction Award in ID Magazine’s Design Review 2000 because "the jurors were awed by the mechanics, wowed by the comfort and overcome with excitement about the possibility of changing the contract-seating market forever." Said Wired Magazine in comparing Freedom to Herman Miller’s ubiquitous Aeron chair and Steelcase’s Leap chair, "The Aeron [is] a touch old-fashioned. [Leap is] just a tad obsessive. Sign [me] up for a Freedom chair."
The Freedom chair contains approximately 50% recycled material (by weight). It was designed with fewer parts, and weighs far less, than most other high-end task chairs. Fewer parts and less material mean less energy and waste, which means that Freedom is doing good things for the environment too.
Available in a variety of textiles and colors, retail prices start at $995. For more information, visit www.humanscale.com or call 800-400-0625.
Humanscale Contacts
Sarah Newkirk
Humanscale
212 725 4749 ext. 111
snewkirk@humanscale.com
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About Humanscale:
Established in 1983, Humanscale is the leading manufacturer of ergonomic products for the office. With the introduction of Niels Diffrient’s Freedom chair in 1999, Humanscale entered the seating market with a next-generation task chair that promotes movement by making manual adjustments automatic. From seating to monitor arms, Humanscale products create a more comfortable place to work. Revenues in 2002 exceeded $80 million and have nearly tripled in the past four years. Humanscale is headquartered in New York City.
Environmental Statement:
Humanscale is committed to sustainability and environmental conservation, which guide our choices in product design, manufacturing and packaging. Recycled and/or recyclable materials account for approximately 80% (by weight) of all materials used in Humanscale products shipped in 2002, and our packaging contains about 40% recycled content. In addition, Humanscale is a proud sponsor of the World Wildlife Fund, and our founder and CEO, Robert King, has served on the WWF’s National Council since 1999.
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