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designed by Niels Diffrient
(6)The Diffrient Smart chair is an intelligent mesh task chair with a striking linear aesthetic that complements any environment. Engineered to provide automatic lumbar support for every user, as well as simplicity and ease of use, Diffrient Smart offers comfort, style and flexibility. Diffrient Smart was created by designer Niels Diffrient and, like Humanscale’s Liberty and Diffrient World chairs, uses Humanscale’s revolutionary Form-Sensing Mesh Technology and mechanism-free recline for perfect support for every user.
designed by Niels Diffrient
The Diffrient Smart chair is an intelligent mesh task chair with a striking linear aesthetic that complements any environment. Engineered to provide automatic lumbar support for every user, as well as simplicity and ease of use, Diffrient Smart offers comfort, style and flexibility. Diffrient Smart was created by designer Niels Diffrient and, like Humanscale’s Liberty and Diffrient World chairs, uses Humanscale’s revolutionary Form-Sensing Mesh Technology and mechanism-free recline for perfect support for every user.
The Diffrient Smart chair is an intelligent mesh task chair with a striking linear aesthetic that complements any environment. Engineered to provide automatic lumbar support for every user, as well as simplicity and ease of use, Diffrient Smart offers comfort, style and flexibility. Diffrient Smart was created by designer Niels Diffrient and, like Humanscale’s Liberty and Diffrient World chairs, uses Humanscale’s revolutionary Form-Sensing Mesh Technology and mechanism-free recline for perfect support for every user.
SMART OCEAN
Featuring the same timeless aesthetic, Form-Sensing Mesh Technology and seamless functionality as Diffrient Smart, Smart Ocean is the embodiment of our commitment to sustainable manufacturing. Humanscale has partnered with Bureo - an emerging venture developing innovative solutions to prevent ocean plastic pollution. Smart Ocean is built with recycled material that originates from Bureo's Net+Positiva program, which facilitates waste disposal points for plastic fishing nets off the coast of Chile and provides incentives for the collection of discarded materials. Smart Ocean is the first-ever task chair to incorporate recycled ocean plastics in its material composition and is also Living Product Challenge-certified.
Learn more about Smart Ocean
Featuring Humanscale’s weight-sensitive, mechanism-free recline, Smart automatically adjusts to the body weight of each sitter to provide perfect recline support. Using the laws of physics, all the user has to do is sit and the chair will provide the correct amount of tension for their shape.
Free of manual controls, Diffrient Smart has a striking, sleek aesthetic, and its U-shaped back makes it the perfect fit for any high-design environment. With linear lines in the backrest and strong mesh for maximum support, it’s the ideal task chair for the modern, active workspace.
To ensure every person who sits in Diffrient Smart would have perfect lumbar support, Diffrient created a tri-panel mesh backrest to automatically adapt to the user’s needs. Eliminating the need for complicated adjustments and external lumbar devices, Diffrient Smart uses Form-Sensing Mesh technology for easy, ongoing comfort.
QuickBuy models ship in 1-2 weeks. All other custom configured Seating products ship in 2-4 weeks.
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.
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 a result of seeking a really good adjustable arm, I was led in a direction that would allow me to do that in the best mechanical and serviceable way. That led me to the dominant visual feature of the chair... the horseshoe shaped aluminum support."
Niels Diffrient, Designer
Following the success of Liberty and Diffrient World, Niels Diffrient developed Diffrient Smart to offer a chair with strong visual features. He wanted to create a task chair that was in line with Humanscale’s philosophy of designing seating that is simple, beautiful and effortless to use. Diffrient Smart has straight, bold lines and a timeless horseshoe-shaped aluminum support, so its suit any environment it is placed in.
"As a result of seeking a really good adjustable arm, I was led in a direction that would allow me to do that in the best mechanical and serviceable way. That led me to the dominant visual feature of the chair... the horseshoe shaped aluminum support."
Niels Diffrient, Designer
Following the success of Liberty and Diffrient World, Niels Diffrient developed Diffrient Smart to offer a chair with strong visual features. He wanted to create a task chair that was in line with Humanscale’s philosophy of designing seating that is simple, beautiful and effortless to use. Diffrient Smart has straight, bold lines and a timeless horseshoe-shaped aluminum support, so its suit any environment it is placed in.
Chair Width: 26.5” Arms / 21” Armless
Base Size: 26”
Seat Height Range: 16.5” – 22.8”
Recline Range: 18° recline + 8° backrest tilt
Chair Weight: 34 lbs arms / 31 lbs armless
Weight Capacity:
Diffrient Smart, up to 300 lbs.
Diffrient Smart Plus, up to 400 lbs.
Stackable: No