humanscale

Humanscale is an American company that designs and manufactures ergonomic office furniture and related accessories. The company emphasizes human-centered design, with products intended to support posture, comfort, and productivity. Its chairs have been influential in ergonomic design; notable models include the Freedom chair (1999), designed by Niels Diffrient, featuring weight-sensitive recline and minimal manual adjustments, and the Diffrient World chair (2000s), a mesh-back design that relies on passive ergonomic principles. Beyond seating, Humanscale offers sit-stand desks, monitor arms, keyboard systems, task lighting, and footrests. The organization markets its products for office, healthcare, and educational environments and sells through a global network of distributors and showrooms. Philosophy and Research: The company emphasizes evidence-based, user-driven design and sustainable manufacturing, with a focus on long product life cycles. Impact and reception: Humanscale is regarded as a leading name in ergonomic office furniture and has influenced industry practices around adjustability and user-friendly ergonomics.