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IN CONVERSATION
Indian Market: A Blend of
Maturity and Sophistication
The Journey come with headrests, the Freedom
Humanscale’s journey into task seating Chair was one of the first to introduce
began 25 years ago, a bold step for this feature, and it’s still unique in the
a company that originally focused way it adjusts as you recline. It’s the
on computer support products like only chair in the industry that supports
keyboard trays. However, the launch of your head whether you’re sitting
the Freedom Chair was a momentous upright or leaning back.
event that brought the company
into the limelight. There were three Design Philosophy: Where Function
key innovations associated with the Meets Aesthetics
Freedom Chair, which to this day define It has always been a challenge to
our products. balance functionality with aesthetics in
One of those innovations was product design. One must remember
the gravity mechanism, designed that creating something highly
by Niels Diffrient. This mechanism ergonomic that also looks good is no
revolutionized the user experience small feat. You can develop the best
by eliminating the need for complex ergonomic chair in the world, but if it’s
adjustments. Imagine sitting in a unattractive, no one will buy it.
chair that supports you whether you’re What sets Humanscale apart is
Each product designed by sitting upright or reclining, without their collaboration with top designers
Humanscale must adhere fiddling with knobs or levers. It uses who understand that the interaction
between a person and an object
your own body weight to provide the
to rigorous environmental right amount of support. should be both pleasant and visually
Another stand-out feature of the
standards, which is Freedom Chair is its synchronous appealing. In today’s world, where
hybrid work is becoming the norm,
no easy feat. Creating arms, designed to keep users properly creating a workspace that’s not only
products that are as supported. This innovation ensures that functional but also beautiful is more
important than ever.
no matter how you adjust your position,
eco-friendly as these the chair adapts to you.
Most impressive among the
presents significant innovations is the self-adjusting Staying Ahead Through Customer
Engagement
challenges, but headrest. While many chairs today So, how does Humanscale stay ahead
commitment to this goal
remains strong despite
the added complexity
it brings to the design
process, says Mark
Consolla, Vice President,
Product Management,
Humanscale, in an
exclusive interview with
Architecture Update.
40 Architecture Update l November-December 2024
