Diffrient World marks Humanscale’s first foray into all-mesh task seating. Like its mesh-backed forerunner, Liberty, Diffrient World’s tri-panel backrest hugs the body to provide tailor-made lumbar support, while its mesh seat eliminates contact stress under the thighs. But Diffrient World’s major innovation is its mechanism-free recline action, which leverages two parts of the chair’s frame, the user’s body weight, and the laws of physics to provide automatic and balanced support throughout the full range of recline. No chair is more intuitive, creating the ultimate user-friendly sitting experience.

Designer: Niels Diffrient.

Niels Diffrient’s designs are grounded in the philosophy of form flowing from function. His work has spanned generations, consistently looking past trends to reinvent the tools we use for daily living. 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 has 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.

• Diffrient-World-Chair-catalogue.pdf (595.66 Kb)