Humanscale Diffrient Smart Ocean Chair

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 is the embodiment of our commitment to sustainable manufacturing. Each chair incorporates almost 2 pounds of recycled fishing net material and is Living Product certified — meeting the most rigorous sustainable manufacturing criteria to date.

The material used to produce Smart Ocean is sourced from Net Positiva, a collection and recycling program aimed at combating the detrimental effects of discarded ocean fishing nets. These nets are transformed into recycled nylon pellets used for manufacturing.

MEASUREMENTS:

• Height: 102 to 114 cm / 40 to 44.8 inch
• Width: 66 cm / 26 inch
• Seat Height: 45 to 58 cm / 17.6 to 22.8 inch
• Seat Width: 49 cm / 19.25 inch
• Cushion Thickness: 5 cm / 2 inch

MATERIALS:

• Brushed Aluminum, Fabric, Leather

HELPFUL NOTES:

• Distinctive linear design that compliments any environment
• Automatically pivoting backrest with seven-degree back tilt offers perfect lumbar comfort in all positions
• Unique arm design attaches to the back frame to provide support during full range of recline
• Tri-Panel non-stretch Mesh Technology provides perfectly tailored comfort and lumbar support for any posture
• Modular design ensures easy maintenance and allows the user to update the chair’s aesthetic
• A variety of high-performance textiles and proprietary meshes complement the chair’s form
• 15 year warranty

Niels Diffrient

6 September 1928 – 8 June 2013

Throughout his life, Diffrient was instrumental in the mid-century modern design movement, working with revered designers whom he considered colleagues and friends including Eero Saarinen, Ettore Sottsass, Charles Eames, Marco Zanuso and Henry Dreyfuss. Diffrient had more than 50 patents and 75 awards, including the 2002 National Design Award from the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and the 1996 Chrysler Design Award. Diffrient was also recognized as a Royal Designer for Industry (Hon RDI) by the British Royal Society of Arts in 1987. His vast industrial design portfolio included work with AT & T, Honeywell, John Deere, Knoll and American Airlines.

His partnership with Humanscale began in 1998, with the development of the Freedom chair. Setting a new standard for ergonomic task chairs, Freedom changed the way people sit. Always true to his core values on design, Diffrient said in a New York Times article, “Why would you design something if it didn't improve the human condition?” Diffrient believed that chairs should adjust to the user, not the other way around—and this was evident in all of his designs including the Liberty, Diffrient World and his latest chair, Diffrient Smart. Founder and CEO of Humanscale Robert King said, “Niels believed in the importance of function and knew that great design must be driven by it. This is why his products often transcend any specific time or place.” His industrial design career began with an early interest in architecture and design, which he studied at Cranbrook Academy of Art. He later earned a Fulbright to study design in Milan with Marco Zanusso, with whom he worked to design the award winning Borletti sewing machine. Following his return to the United States, Diffrient worked as an industrial designer with Henry Dreyfuss at his firm, which Diffrient later led until 1980.

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